What's Your Problem?
What's Your Problem?

Using Pokémon Go to Map the World

28 May 2026 36:29 iHeartPodcasts and Pushkin Industries

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About this episode

Maps have gotten much better over the past few decades. But they're still mostly two dimensional, and they struggle to keep up with a world that is always changing. Brian McClendon is the Chief Technology Officer of Niantic Spatial, a spinout of the company that makes Pokémon Go. Brian's problem is this: How do you build a three-dimensional map of the world that both robots and humans can use to find their way?

In this episode, Brian explains:

  • What he learned building Google Earth
  • How Pokémon Go players helped build the foundation for robot navigation
  • What it will take to teach AI to understand the physical world.
  • Why GPS is so bad in cities
  •  Why trees are such a big problem for digital mapmakers

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  • Listen to Jacob’s other show, Business History
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