Niantic’s adorable AR creature, Peridot, is evolving once again — and this time, it can talk. The company is introducing a new voice feature that allows these virtual companions to guide users in the real world, offering fun facts and interactive tours. The feature is currently being tested using Snap Spectacles.
Imagine taking a stroll with your dog. As it sniffs around and explores, you look up to see San Francisco’s iconic Ferry Building glimmering in the distance. Then, your dog turns toward you and says, “Did you know this waterfront was once hidden behind piers and a freeway for nearly a century?”
Now, imagine that dog isn’t real — it’s a colorful alien-like creature that only you can see through your augmented reality glasses. That’s exactly the experience Niantic Labs envisions with its enhanced AR game, Peridot.
Expanding the Real-World Metaverse
Niantic — best known for creating Pokémon Go, one of the most successful AR games ever — continues to push its mission of blending the digital and physical worlds. With Peridot, users can create and interact with virtual “Dots,” charming digital pets that appear to coexist with their surroundings through the camera on their mobile device.
Initially launched in 2022 as a mobile game, Peridot has evolved with the integration of generative AI features, allowing these creatures to express more lifelike behaviors. The game is now managed by Niantic Spatial, a company Niantic founded in April to explore how geospatial data can fuel AR innovation.
The upgraded version, known as Peridot Beyond, is now available on Snap’s Spectacles, bringing the experience off the phone screen and into real-world environments.
Giving Peridot a Voice
Niantic Spatial has teamed up with Hume AI, a startup specializing in emotionally intelligent AI voice models, to bring Peridot’s Dots to life through speech. This partnership, first announced in September, is now being showcased publicly at Snap’s Lens Fest developer event.
Hume AI’s founder, Alan Cowen, describes the project as a step toward the future of human-computer interaction. “Eventually, AR will become part of everyone’s daily life,” he says. “You’ll be able to talk to digital companions that help you navigate the world.”
When you summon your Dot while wearing Snap Spectacles, it appears as a 3D creature seamlessly blending into your real-world view. You can ask it for walking directions to a restaurant, and it will project tiny virtual footprints leading the way. Along the route, your Dot might even pause to comment on interesting landmarks or sights.
A Friend in Augmented Reality
Alicia Berry, executive producer at Niantic Spatial, explains the inspiration behind the idea:
“Think about being in Tokyo — it’s always easier to follow a local friend through the subway system than to rely on a map. We wanted to recreate that experience through AR — something that makes navigation stress-free and adds a sense of calm.”
Earlier this year, Niantic Spatial released a preview video showcasing this interactive experience, demonstrating how the Dots communicate and guide users. While some found the scripted dialogue a bit awkward, the concept reveals how Niantic envisions a future where AR companions become part of everyday life — part tour guide, part friend, and part playful alien.
Source: wired.com
