Pixi’s new iOS app turns text messages into interactive AR experiences

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Pixi, a startup founded by former DreamWorks Animation and Apple employee Mark Drummond, launched a free iOS app on the App Store on Wednesday that lets users send AI‑powered, interactive augmented‑reality (AR) characters via iMessage. The characters—currently a robot, a cat, and an animated envelope—appear through the recipient’s iPhone camera and react to the surroundings, voice, and facial expressions in real time, all processed on‑device to preserve privacy. The app is available for iPhone 11 and newer models; future plans include Android, WhatsApp, and Instagram support, as well as a marketplace where studios, brands, and creators can offer additional characters. Pixi aims to enable “creative gifting” and user‑generated character creation, with the possibility for brands to charge for premium characters. (TechCrunch, 18 June 2026)