Odyssey Startup Develops AI Tool to Convert Text or Images into 3D Renderings

Odyssey is a startup founded by autonomous technology pioneers Oliver Cameron and Jeff Hawke, which is developing an AI tool called Explorer. This tool can convert text or images into 3D renderings.

Explorer shares some similarities with the so-called "world models" recently showcased by DeepMind, World Labs, and the Israeli startup Decart. For example, given a description like "a Japanese garden with lush green vegetation," Explorer can generate an interactive, real-time scene.

Odyssey claims that its tool excels at creating realistic scenes, thanks to its unique technical approach. The AI powering Explorer is trained using real-world landscapes captured by the company's custom 360-degree backpack camera system.

According to Odyssey, any scene generated by Explorer can be loaded into creative tools such as Unreal Engine, Blender, and Adobe After Effects for manual editing. This is due to the use of Gaussian splats, a well-established volumetric rendering technique that can reconstruct realistic scenes and is widely supported in computer graphics tools.

Although still in its early stages, Odyssey believes that Explorer already achieves a high level of 3D detail and fidelity, with potential applications in live-action films, hyper-realistic games, and new forms of entertainment. However, Odyssey acknowledges that Explorer currently has some limitations, such as an average generation time of 10 minutes, relatively low scene resolution, and occasional visual artifacts that can be distracting.

Despite these limitations, Odyssey has made Explorer available to production companies like Garden Studios in the UK and an increasing number of independent artists. Interested users can apply for access on Odyssey's blog.

For creative professionals in the gaming and film industries, tools like Explorer may evoke mixed feelings. Surveys show that some game studios are using AI to reduce costs, increase productivity, and compensate for staff turnover, potentially leading to significant job displacement. A 2024 study commissioned by the Animation Guild, a union of Hollywood animators and cartoonists, predicts that more than 100,000 jobs in the film, television, and animation sectors in the U.S. will be affected by AI by 2026.

However, Odyssey states that it is committed to working with, rather than replacing, creative professionals. To this end, the company announced that Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar and former president of Walt Disney Animation Studios, has joined its board and invested in Odyssey.

To date, Odyssey has raised $27 million from investors including EQT Ventures, GV, and Air Street Capital. Cameron previously served as a vice president at Cruise, while Hawke was a founding researcher at Wayve.