KDDI Corporation, palan, and Pixelynx have partnered to combine their AI, cloud, and XR (extended reality) technologies to enhance Pixelynx’s KORUS platform, KDDI’s αU on cloud service, and palan’s AR creation tool, palanAR.
KDDI, a leading telecommunications company with 75 million mobile subscribers, will utilize its infrastructure in collaboration with the other two companies to create an immersive music XR experience for users.
The partnership is focused on enabling users to generate music AI and XR experiences without requiring coding skills to make AR content creation more accessible by allowing creators to use authenticated AI through the KOR Protocol, an entertainment IP infrastructure
What is Pixelynx’s KORUS?
Pixelynx’s KORUS is an AI-powered platform designed for music creation and remixing.
Built on the KOR Protocol, KORUS provides users with tools to develop music using AI and manage intellectual property through decentralized systems. The platform is designed to integrate with other technologies, such as KDDI’s cloud services and palanAR, to offer users a comprehensive environment for creating and distributing music within XR experiences.
KORUS is developed by Pixelynx, a company founded by music industry veterans such as such as deadmau5, Richie Hawtin, Inder Phull, Ben Turner and Dean Wilson in 2020, and later acquired by Animoca Brands in December 2022.
“We’re a company for artists, by artists, focused on protecting creators and unlocking new forms of expression. We are developing KORUS and the underlying KOR Protocol as a tool for artists and intellectual property rights holders to grow their IP in new ways whilst providing them with the protection and transparency needed to monetise effectively,” said Inder Phull, Co-founder and CEO of Pixelynx.
“Reaching millions of users through the KDDI ecosystem is just the start and we have many more integrations coming over the year that will help unlock new business models for the entertainment industry through AI and blockchain.”
What is KDDI’s αU on Cloud?
KDDI’s αU on cloud is a service that provides APIs to enhance web3 products and services.
The platform can integrate with generative AI models, such as Google’s Gemini, to offer advanced functionalities. For example, αU on cloud can enhance a shopping experience by generating a try-on image from a single clothing image.
In the context of this partnership, αU on cloud will connect with Pixelynx’s KORUS platform to enhance the user experience by allowing seamless creation of live music and video content within XR environments.
“Producing XR content is inherently difficult as creators must prepare many materials themselves, said Nozomi Shimogiri, Business Development Manager at KDDI Corporation.
“Although 3D characters and models can be prepared relatively easily, preparing the background images and various other materials is a challenge, especially when it comes to music, as finding and customising the right one is key.”
What is palan AR?
Founded in 2016, palan is a startup focused on augmented reality (AR) technologies.
Its platform, palanAR, enables users to create WebAR experiences without the need for coding. In addition to palanAR, the company offers several other products, including ‘TOBIRA,’ an AR camera, ‘palan3D,’ a 3D management and editing service, and ‘WebXR Commerce,’ which allows users to explore virtual stores directly in their web browsers.
Through the partnership with KDDI and Pixelynx, Pixelynx’s KORUS is being integrated into palanAR via KDDI’s αU on cloud service, bringing AI-driven music functionality to palanAR users.
“We are trying to create an environment where people worldwide can express themselves using AR, and that content can be viewed worldwide. We want to strengthen this, said Eiji Saito, CEO of palan.
“As one use case, we would like to expand its use for tourism. To that end, lowering the barriers for local governments and general creators to create AR content is important.”