It’s been eight years since Pokémon Go took the world by storm. But was the global phenomenon just a big data mining scam?

By the end of its launch year in 2016, over 200 million people had downloaded the game and today 90 million users are still trying to catch em’ all. But it's come to light that the game’s developers, Niantic, have been using its player’s data to train “the next frontier of AI”.

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou chats with freelance games journalist Harry Kalogirou to find out how this happened, whether users are justified in feeling scammed and what this means for the future of AI.

Follow The Briefing:
TikTok: @listnrnewsroom
Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

It’s been eight years since Pokémon Go took the world by storm. But was the global phenomenon just a big data mining scam?
By the end of its launch year in 2016, over 200 million people had downloaded the game and today 90 million users are still trying to catch em’ all. But it's come to light that the game’s developers, Niantic, have been using its player’s data to train “the next frontier of AI”.
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou chats with freelance games journalist Harry Kalogirou to find out how this happened, whether users are justified in feeling scammed and what this means for the future of AI.
Follow The Briefing: TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@listnrnewsroom?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc">@listnrnewsroom</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/listnrnewsroom?igsh=MXNoZ2NjYWdsMjk5bA==">@listnrnewsroom </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebriefingpodcast/">@thebriefingpodcast</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/listnrnewsroom?igsh=MXNoZ2NjYWdsMjk5bA=="> </a> YouTube: <a href="https://youtube.com/@listnrnewsroom?si=LR3K1dpp2Rwuo9X4">@LiSTNRnewsroom</a> Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/eMpGZP7fRBPrcMid/?mibextid=LQQJ4d">@LiSTNR Newsroom</a>

A national daily news podcast, The Briefing gives you the latest headlines, discussion and explainer interviews to keep you informed and entertained.

Bringing you the news you need to know at 6am and 4pm Monday to Friday, and profile features across the weekend, The Briefing is Australia's go-to news podcast for your commute, coffee or exercise.

Know more in minutes.

Hosted by journalists Sacha Barbour Gatt, Chris Spyrou and Natarsha Belling.

A national daily news podcast, The Briefing gives you the latest headlines, discussion and explainer interviews to keep you informed and entertained.
Bringing you the news you need to know at 6am and 4pm Monday to Friday, and profile features across the weekend, The Briefing is Australia's go-to news podcast for your commute, coffee or exercise.
Know more in minutes.
Hosted by journalists Sacha Barbour Gatt, Chris Spyrou and Natarsha Belling.