Odyssey, the AI startup led by CEO Oliver Cameron, announced the launch of Explorer, a generative world model that can transform text and images into detailed 3D worlds.
Alongside the product announcement, the company shared that Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull has joined Odyssey’s board of directors and is also an investor in the company. “Ed co-founded Pixar with the belief that stories should shape technology, rather than the other way around,” Cameron said, “which aligns with Pixar’s mission and Odyssey’s focus on generative world models.” Then he added.
Explorer is described as an image-to-world model designed for photorealistic 3D environments. Produces output in the form of Gaussian splats. This technique has attracted attention among vision researchers because it can represent highly detailed 3D scenes.
These splats are compatible with industry standard tools such as Unreal Engine, Blender, and After Effects, allowing seamless integration for artists. “Although in their early stages, generative world models like Explorer promise to greatly accelerate the creation of worlds compatible with movies and games, as well as enable entirely new applications and entertainment formats. ,” the company said in a blog post.
Odyssey is already testing the Explorer’s capabilities at Garden Studios in London, projecting the generated world onto a virtual production stage used for film production. “Bottom line is they worked well and looked great,” Cameron said.
The company is currently expanding access to Explorer and recruiting collaborators to apply through its website. Prime Minister Cameron expressed optimism about the potential of the generative world model, saying: “An entirely new medium is being created as we speak.”
The addition of Mr. Catmull to Odyssey’s board of directors is expected to provide strategic guidance as the company navigates this new frontier.
Founded in 2023 by self-driving car industry veterans Cameron and Jeff Hawk, Odyssey has come out of stealth mode after operating in secrecy for almost a year. This generative AI startup focuses on building cinematic worlds and visual effects for the film and gaming industries.
Odyssey has raised a total of $27 million to support its goals. This includes $9 million in seed funding from GV (Google Ventures), DCVC, Air Street Capital, and private investors, followed by an $18 million Series A round led by EQT Ventures.
