Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


Toys, Education Companies Invest $24 Million in Mobile Gaming Startup

Several major companies in the toys and games industry have invested in a California-based startup that builds immersive games and content for its flagship iPad accessory.TechCrunch reported that Osmo, “an early entrant in IoT toys,” has raised $24 million in funding from Mattel, Sesame Workshop, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and several venture capital funds. 

Osmo’s gaming system, designed for children ages 5–12, utilizes its own Reflective Artificial Intelligence technology to integrate physical puzzle pieces, blocks and other toys into a digital environment. With Pizza Co., for example, students learn business and math skills as they run their own virtual pizza shop using tangible money tiles that register on their iPad.

Osmo will use this round of funding to adapt some of its popular toys and games for smartphone use. The startup also plans to produce more character-driven content for its products through its partnerships with Sesame Workshop and Mattel.

Since its launch in 2013, Osmo products have been used in more than 22,000 schools across 30 countries, according to its website. Osmo’s core game system costs $29, while games and packs range in price from $29–49. Several kits are available for $99–$189.

Further information is available on the Osmo site.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • abstract smartphone translucent screen displaying AI interface

    Apple Unveils Redesigned Siri AI

    At its recent Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced Siri AI, a redesigned version of its voice assistant that Apple describes in its own announcement as "a profoundly more capable and personal assistant." The update is intended to make Siri more conversational, more context-aware, and more useful across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro.

  • AI artificial intelligence interface over laptop keyboard

    Microsoft Drafts AI Code of Conduct, Emphasizes Human Control

    Microsoft has published a draft code of conduct that lays out how its homegrown AI models should behave, with human control taking priority over model capability, autonomy, and even task completion.

  • Blurred silhouettes of business people in a modern office with a glowing blue network overlay

    Open Secure AI Alliance Moving Under Linux Foundation

    Governance of the Open Secure AI Alliance has moved to the Linux Foundation, giving the initiative what the organizations describe as a neutral home for developing open source tools, shared standards and defensive practices. The Alliance was launched by NVIDIA in July to develop open security technologies for AI systems and agents.

  • Neon email icon hangs from chain with fishing hook below.

    Report Emphasizes Importance of Building a Security Culture

    While security teams have invested heavily in e-mail protection, endpoint security, and identity controls, new research from Fortra suggests one challenge remains difficult to solve: users.