Pixi founder Mark Drummond, formerly of DreamWorks Animation and Apple, designed the platform to move beyond traditional digital greeting cards. By utilizing on-device processing, the app’s characters interpret real-world cues—such as a user’s smile or the presence of a pet—to create a shared, spontaneous experience. The company emphasizes that all visual and audio data stays on the user's handset to ensure privacy.
In section Startups & Technology
Pixi brings AI-powered interactive AR characters to iMessage
A virtual cat performing stand-up on a desk or an animated envelope chasing a friend across a living room: these are the latest additions to iMessage. Startup Pixi launched its iOS app Wednesday, replacing static stickers and GIFs with AI-driven augmented reality characters that perceive and react to their physical surroundings.
At launch, the library includes a robot, a cat, and an animated envelope, alongside mini-games like tic-tac-toe. The current rollout supports iPhone 11 and newer models, with the recipient needing no additional software to view the AR content. Looking ahead, Drummond intends to open the platform to third-party creators and brands, eventually allowing users to generate custom personalities through simple text prompts. While the app remains free for consumers, the startup plans to build a marketplace where studios can distribute unique characters, potentially expanding to Android and platforms like WhatsApp in the future.
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