OpenAI Acquires Global Illumination, the Makers of a Minecraft Clone 16
OpenAI has acquired Global Illumination, a small "digital product company" that has a link to a game called Biomes. The web-based, open source sandbox MMORPG "has a striking resemblance to Minecraft," says The Verge's Jay Peters. From the report: In its announcement, OpenAI didn't disclose the terms of the acquisition but said that Global Illumination's "entire team" has joined the company to work on its "core products," including ChatGPT. Beyond that, OpenAI didn't specify what the Global Illumination team would be doing at the company. OpenAI didn't immediately reply to a request for comment.
"Global Illumination is a company that has been leveraging AI to build creative tools, infrastructure, and digital experiences," OpenAI said in the announcement. "The team previously designed and built products early on at Instagram and Facebook and have also made significant contributions at YouTube, Google, Pixar, Riot Games, and other notable companies." TechCrunch notes that this is OpenAI's "first public acquisition in its roughly seven-year history."
"Global Illumination is a company that has been leveraging AI to build creative tools, infrastructure, and digital experiences," OpenAI said in the announcement. "The team previously designed and built products early on at Instagram and Facebook and have also made significant contributions at YouTube, Google, Pixar, Riot Games, and other notable companies." TechCrunch notes that this is OpenAI's "first public acquisition in its roughly seven-year history."
Why? (Score:5, Interesting)
Neither the summary nor the article explain why OpenAI was interested in buying the company.
Re: (Score:1)
because GPT4 was unable to install minetest, so suggested that that the company buy this company because a website said installation was easier than minetest, and further GPT4 suggested to management that buying a game company would help expany knowledge of practical game theory.
Re: (Score:3)
Because someone needed a payday. It could have been a relative, a friend, or a past creditor. Regardless, looks like they got paid today.
Re:Why? (Score:5, Interesting)
Probably because Microsoft needs to avoid regulatory scrutiny. They own Minecraft and they certainly don't want any competition. The OpenAI "investment" kept Microsoft's ownership below 50% so they could pretend like they don't really own the company when effectively they do. So if they want to make some anti-competitive purchases, they can just have OpenAI do it for them and act like they had nothing to do with it.
I wouldn't be surprised if OpenAI purchased more companies that Microsoft wants to purchase, but, due to the regulatory climate and their bid to acquire Activision, would bring unwanted scrutiny.
Re:Why? (Score:4, Funny)
At least the game is open source and on github.
Oh wait..
Re: (Score:2)
"Biomes is an open source sandbox MMORPG built for the web using web technologies such as Next.js, Typescript, React and WebAssembly."
Run! Run away! Run awayyyyy!
Re: (Score:2)
MineCraft has been one of the training grounds for OpenAI research, they can use this instead - it looks better, and they can run it drastically faster for training on their hardware.
Re: (Score:2)
That's a very reasonable answer, it would have been helpful if the article had discussed this!
Re: (Score:2)
Neither the summary nor the article explain why OpenAI was interested in buying the company.
Perhaps because OpenAI is owned by Microsoft, who also owns Minecraft. The only reason I can see Microsoft would do this instead of using Minecraft itself to incorporate AI, if that's OpenAI's "excuse" for the purchase, is that it's a way they can buy out their competition without raising red flags.
Re: (Score:2)
Maybe their AI told them it was a good bet? (Score:3)
Oh wait, LLMs aren't good at math. Oops!
Buy Some Legos. (Score:1, Troll)
Fuck this virtual bullshit. O wait. Money is involved. Never mind. Enjoy your demon semen.
First commit dates are all last week (Score:1)
this makes even less sense, not like it had a track record or anything.
why does it look like wolfenstein (Score:1)
It's not a minecraft clone... (Score:2)
It actually seems more like a clone of Cube World [youtube.com], with RPG elements, and voxel building added. Biggest difference between this and Cube World is, Cube World has no building elements. Biggest difference between this and Minecraft is, Mobs and players aren't made of voxels, and Minecraft has no RPG elements. Might give this a try tonight.
AI driven world builder (Score:1)