John Hanke

Interested in how to bring AI into the real world to solve fundamental human challenges.

[David Senra @davidsenra]

Rick Rubin’s House on the Mountain test:

Create according to your own taste, not for applause, critics, algorithms, or market demand.

“Imagine going to live on a mountaintop by yourself, forever. You build a home that no one will ever visit. Still, you invest the time and effort to shape the space in which you’ll spend your days. The wood, the plates, the pillows—all magnificent. Curated to your taste.”

“This is the essence of great art. We create our art so we may inhabit it ourselves.”

“I'm willing to go to extremes to make the thing that I want to inhabit and it's not for anyone else. it's just for me.”

[Mario Gabriele 🦊 @mariogabriele]

In 2016, Cyan Banister (@cyantist) went around telling anyone who would listen that everyone was about to be catching invisible Pokémon in the street.

The response was unanimous: she was insane.

She had arrived at the conviction through observation. Her friends were playing an obscure geolocation game called Ingress and the obsession was unmistakable.

When Google spun out Niantic, she moved immediately. What followed was, in her words, the closest humanity has come to world peace: strangers converging in parks, crossing boundaries, catching the same invisible things.

The lesson she draws is simple: human obsession is a signal; most investors never notice it.

[John Hanke @johnhanke]

Love the podcast. Rucking is awesome. Met @Michael_Easter at a @GORUCK event in 2022 where we were both speakers. Jason and Em and GoRuck are the OG team who have been building the community around rucking since 2008. I'm glad to see it growing in popularity as it's such a great way to get outside and get some exercise. Keep the great interviews and stories coming.

[John Hanke @johnhanke]

Enjoyed discussed around the intersection of world models, large geo models, and spatial-temporal models with @mbaierlentz and @PimDeWitte and the different (and I think complementary) approaches being taken by @NianticSpatial and @gen_intuition.

[Niantic Spatial 🌎 @NianticSpatial]

Last week at @TEDAISF, we brought together leaders in AI, robotics, and spatial technologies to explore how real-world AI is taking shape—connecting humans and machines in the world we share.

⭐ Watch panel recordings: https://t.co/TYucN5tJJ9

[Road to VR @RtoVR]

Snap Inc. & Niantic's New Partnership Could be a Big Moment for City-scale AR Positioning and Experiences

Read the report 👇 https://t.co/Tk1KLHAzRY @Snapchat @NianticSpatial

[John Hanke @johnhanke]

Fun discussion on the future of geospatial AI, robotics and humanity's connection to the real world: https://t.co/4tr0R3PVqT

[8th Wall @the8thwall]

🌍 Step Into the Scaniverse through your Meta Quest browser and explore real places in stunning 3D.

👉 Built in Niantic Studio - see how we did it: https://t.co/5rLteq5czH

[Pokémon GO BR @PokemonGOptBR]

Sabe quando bate uma nostalgia? Os dias de City Safari em São Paulo foram incríveis. Se desse para voltar no tempo... O tempo não volta, mas sabe o que volta?

A vontade de participar de muitos eventos! Não percam o GO Tour: Unova - Global, em Fortaleza nos dias 01 e 02 de março!

[Masa Kawashima @mask303]

OMG...! なんという…！すごいです…！

[GORUCK @GORUCK]

It's Monster's BIRTHDAY. Get up to 65% off rucksacks, footwear, training gear, apparel, and small dog leashes. GORUCK events through March 2025 are also 25% off. Use code "HAPPYBIRTHDAY2025" at check out to save on early 2025 GORUCK Challenge and City Ruck events.

[Niantic Spatial 🌎 @NianticSpatial]

The @Scaniverse is expanding! 🌍

ᯅ Preview Into The Scaniverse: Explore your 3D splats on Meta Quest in our immersive beta app.

📱 Now on Android: Access, upload and explore 3D scenes on the world's largest map of splats.

🗣️ Now in Japanese & German: Supporting our global reach, with more languages to come!

https://t.co/4h81FkS3Te

[Pokémon GO @PokemonGoApp]

Pokémon #GOWildArea: Global is less than a week away!

What adventures await you in the wild, Trainer?
https://t.co/d0inqXXvL4

[ショーン🌼 Niantic HR @Sean_NIA_JP]

雨の中みんなで Niantic Park ミッション！

[Greg @GregFeingold]

The Peridot experience on Apple Vision Pro is sooooo cute! ⁦⁦@NianticLabs⁩ 🫶

[Ian Curtis @XRarchitect]

Created this splat of the Niantic booth at web summit (10mb in size via .spz file type). Then created a web based experience where you can move around the booth with a controller, all while inside the actual booth #boothception

[John Hanke @johnhanke]

https://t.co/5FA3PZzDI1

[John Hanke @johnhanke]

Another great set of companies in Game Changers 2025. Nice job Moritz Baier-Lentz 🎮 and team!

[Lightspeed @lightspeedvp]

Check it out—The 2025 Game Changers in Times Square! Thank you to @Nasdaq for congratulating the winners on the big screen:

@BitmagicAI, @brilliantlabsar, @getcartwheel, Cosmic Lounge, @eggscapegame, @ego_ai_, @emptyvesselplay, Giant Skull, @k_idofficial, @layer_ai, @LudeoGG, @looknorthworld, @mudstack, @noodlecatgameco, @playpokpok, @PraktikaEnglish, @PlayOnRay, @RegressionGG, @SloydAi, Stoke Games, @Superbloom_Inc, @PlayRunLegends, @womp3D, @TorbieGames, and @yellow_3d_.

Cc @mbaierlentz, @DeanTak, @GamesBeat