Pixi aims to enhance your dull text messages by introducing AR characters that respond to you.

      iMessage users can now share entertaining AI characters like a cat or robot with their friends.

      Forget about stickers and GIFs; a new app named Pixi Garden encourages sending interactive augmented reality characters via iMessage instead.

      Pixi Platforms launched the app today, allowing users to create and send a “pixi”—an intelligent AR character that animates through the recipient’s phone camera and responds to the real-world environment around them.

      How does a Pixi differ from a sticker or filter?

      A pixi is not merely a static sticker or filter. It operates on an integrated AI system that enables it to act, react, and remain aware of its surroundings. Machine learning sensors observe the environment and listen to the activities taking place near the recipient.

      Per TechCrunch, a virtual cat sent through Pixi might respond when a real dog passes by or react to your facial expressions in real time. The publication noted that during a demo by the company, a stand-up comedy routine concluded when the viewer smiled.

      Upon launch, users can interact with 3D characters like a robot, a cat, and an animated envelope that follows you on the screen, along with simple games such as tic-tac-toe and whack-a-mole. The best part is that all processing occurs directly on your iPhone, ensuring no data is sent outside your device.

      CEO Mark Drummond, a co-founder of Siri, states the goal is to replace traditional e-cards and physical greeting cards with something designed for current communication styles.

      Pixi has ambitious plans for its entertaining characters

      The company aims to establish a marketplace where studios, brands, and independent creators can offer their own characters, similar to how Roblox created a marketplace for games.

      Drummond has even suggested the possibility of incorporating Alice in Wonderland, an open IP character. The app is free and currently available for iPhone 11 and newer devices via the App Store, with plans to expand to Android and other messaging platforms like WhatsApp in the future.

      If this trend gains traction, the simple text bubble may finally receive the enhancement it has lacked for years.

      Manisha Priyadarshini is a tech and entertainment writer with over nine years of editorial experience.

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