Inworld's technology has been used by brands such as NetEase Games, Niantic, LG Uplus, and Alpine Electronics to build AI-driven NPC experiences. The company plans to launch an open-source version of its character creation tool, Character Engine, in the coming months. While the primary focus is on gaming, Inworld is also eyeing applications in marketing campaigns, automated customer service agents, and broader entertainment.
Key takeaways:
- Inworld, a startup launched by the founding team of API.AI, uses machine learning models to generate dynamic dialogue for games, promising more lifelike and immersive gaming experiences.
- The company's AI tools allow customers to build characters and NPCs that can chat and act autonomously, learn and adapt to new situations, and even remember player preferences.
- Inworld recently raised around $30 million in funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Stanford University, Samsung Next, Microsoft’s M12 fund and Eric Schmidt’s First Spark Ventures, bringing its total raised to more than $100 million at a $500 million post-money valuation.
- While the company's primary focus is on gaming, it is also looking at applications beyond games, such as marketing campaigns, automated customer service agents and broader entertainment.