Odyssey, a startup founded by self-driving pioneers Oliver Cameron and Jeff Hawke, has created an AI model that lets users interact with streaming video. This model, available in an early demo, generates and streams video frames every 40 milliseconds, allowing viewers to explore areas within a video, similar to a 3D video game. The technology behind it is a new world model that can predict and generate realistic pixels, maintain spatial consistency, and output coherent video for extended periods of time.
While several big companies, including DeepMind and Microsoft, are also developing world models, Odyssey is positioning itself as a collaborator with creatives, not a replacement. The company believes that interactive video can revolutionize industries like entertainment, advertising, education, and training. However, the model is still in its early stages, with issues such as blurry environments and unstable layouts. Despite these flaws, Odyssey is committed to rapid improvement, aiming to deliver higher-quality models and expand its capabilities.
The demo runs on Nvidia H100 GPUs and costs $1 to $2 per user-hour, streaming video at up to 30 frames per second. Odyssey is taking a unique approach by using a 360-degree, backpack-mounted camera system to capture real-world landscapes. This allows the company to build more accurate models than those trained on publicly available data alone. The company has raised $27 million from investors, including EQT Ventures, GV, and Air Street Capital, with Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull on its board.
Odyssey’s ultimate goal is to integrate its models with popular creative tools like Unreal Engine, Blender, and Adobe After Effects, enabling creators to edit scenes generated by the AI. This integration could empower users to create high-quality, interactive video experiences with minimal production costs, helping unlock new forms of entertainment.
As Odyssey continues to refine its model, it aims to push the boundaries of what’s possible in AI-driven content creation, providing both practical solutions for industries and exciting new possibilities for artists and creators.
