Genies SDK Update & Gucci, Giphy Partnerships

Genies has refined its software development kit and incorporated Giphy and Gucci as new collaborators, empowering its users to design customized Genie avatars.

The company initially launched its SDK in 2018, following a $10 million funding round intended to directly compete with Snap and Apple in the avatar market. With this latest release, Genies reports achieving a novel three-dimensional rendering capability applicable across various platforms, contingent on developers utilizing Genies for animation processes.

Genies has already secured partnerships with numerous prominent figures in the entertainment industry to serve as their official representatives through the Genies talent agency. This roster includes well-known celebrities such as Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber, Cardi B, and Rihanna. Furthermore, Genies has established agreements with the National Football League Players Association, Major League Baseball, and the National Basketball Association.

These celebrities and athletes can now generate revenue from exclusive digital items created by Genies on platforms like Gucci and Giphy, while the fashion brand and meme platform can now provide users with their own digital representations for interactive experiences.

“Throughout the last year, our technology has been enhanced by the demanding creative requirements of celebrities. This advancement fuels Genies’ progress toward becoming the leading avatar provider worldwide,” stated Akash Nigam, Genies CEO and co-founder, in a press release. “An experience formerly reserved for celebrities is now accessible to the general public as their portable virtual identities. By expanding access, we’ve established an opportunity for influential individuals to build innovative and distinct connections with their audiences through avatar-based digital products.”

The SDK integrations remain carefully managed and customized, requiring substantial effort from Genies for each implementation. For example, Gucci customers can virtually try on the latest collections, and the company will offer digital merchandise on its platform developed by Genies. Giphy users will be able to utilize their avatars as animated GIFs on its website and through its network.

“Our Avatar Agency has functioned as a primary platform for numerous artists, and with our next-generation, highly expressive and dynamic 3D Genie, we will further strengthen our standing as the universal digital identity,” explained Izzy Pollak, director of Avatar SDK at Genies. “For both celebrities and everyday users, this unlocks new possibilities and areas for avatar development. Beyond conventional 2D environments like mobile applications and websites, Genies can now be integrated into AR/VR platforms, games, and applications or partner platforms that require a complete 360-degree view of purchased digital items.”