A giant corporation is preparing to let loose an army of walking and talking A.I. characters called "hosts," [which might have you questioning the nature of your reality.](http://pcmag.com/feature/360323/inside-sumerian-amazon-s-big-bet-on-augmented-and-virtual-re)
No, it's not the plot of season two of "Westworld."
Amazon is expected to launch Sumerian, its augmented and virtual reality development platform, next month. [Unlike Microsoft, Sony, and Google before it, the e-commerce giant's A.I. plans do not include any headsets or special devices.]((https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2496299,00.asp)
Built on the Amazon Web Services cloud, Sumerian is a web-based drag-and-drop interface designed to make AR and VR app development easy for experienced developers and those with no coding experience. It's also platform-agnostic, allowing creators to make AR apps for Android and iOS, and to create VR programs that can be integrated with the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive.
"If they're going to make a big bet on AR/VR this is definitely a safer way to do it," said Rob Marvin, the associate features editor at PCMag. He recently got an exclusive look at the platform ahead of its wide release.
Marvin was able to demo two apps built on the platform: a virtual meteorologist's weather forecast from WeatherBug and a new program from Electronic Caregiver that helps elderly patients assess their risk of falling. Both examples make use of Sumerian's A.I.-enabled hosts. The characters are meant to add a human-ish element to the virtual and augmented reality scenes.
Marvin said Amazon also sees great potential in Sumerian for the Internet of Things, interactive display advertising, online retail, and virtual training.
For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/amazons-vr-ar-strategy-throws-out-the-headset).
AI, BNPL and new digital tools are reshaping holiday shopping. PayPal’s Michelle Gill shares survey insights, tech trends, and tips for smarter spending in 2025
'The Chair Company' blends sharp satire with workplace conspiracy. Lake Bell joins us to talk its corporate themes, quirky characters, and why viewers love it!
It's a tough time for the job market. Amid wider economic uncertainty, some analysts have said that businesses are at a “no-hire, no fire” standstill. At the same time, some sizeable layoffs have continued to pile up — raising worker anxieties across sectors. Some companies have pointed to rising operational costs due to U.S.'s new tariffs, while others have redirected money to artificial intelligence investments. Workers in the public sector have also been hit hard. Federal jobs were cut by the thousands earlier this year. And many workers are now going without pay as the U.S. government shutdown has now dragged on for more than a month.
Nvidia smashes earnings with record-breaking revenue and soaring Blackwell demand as shares slip this morning, Barron’s senior writer Adam Levine unpacks it all
Jeff Wagoner, CEO of Outrigger Hospitality Group, discusses the company’s coral preservation initiatives and sustainable practices at their hotels and resorts.
Dena Jalbert, Head of M&A at Align Advisory, discusses the state of mergers and acquisitions in 2025 and beyond, highlighting key trends and opportunities.
Kim Perell, author and entrepreneur, shares actionable tips and tricks to help current and aspiring entrepreneurs kick off 2026 with confidence and momentum.
Computer chipmaker Nvidia is poised to release a quarterly earnings report that is expected to either deepen a recent downturn in the stock market or prompt an ebullient sigh of relief among investors increasingly worried the world’s most valuable company is perched upon an artificial intelligence bubble about to burst.
