A startup called Pixi launched a messaging app on the App Store on Wednesday, June 18, 2026, allowing iPhone users to send interactive augmented reality characters through iMessage. Rather than appearing as static images, the characters come to life through the recipient’s iPhone camera, reacting to their surroundings, responding to voices, and interacting with people in real time.
The app was founded by Mark Drummond, previously at DreamWorks Animation and Apple. Drummond said the app is designed to bring a greater sense of presence to digital conversations, framing the concept as a digitally native alternative to cards, e-cards, and gifts. “Sometimes the psychology is called pebbling or creative gifting,” he told TechCrunch. “You’re sharing tokens of affection, basically cards, e-cards, and gifts. That’s your dad’s, or in some cases your granddad’s media. We can do better.”
At launch, users can choose from three characters — a robot, a cat, and an animated envelope — along with simple games like tic-tac-toe and whack-a-mole. The characters can respond to facial expressions, react to nearby objects, and follow or “attack” recipients in a playful way. Pixi says all visual and audio processing happens on-device to preserve user privacy.
The app is currently available on iPhone 11 and newer. No installation is required to receive a Pixi message. The company plans to expand to Android devices and platforms including WhatsApp and Instagram in the future.
Pixi also intends to build a marketplace where studios, brands, and independent creators can offer their own characters. The company envisions uses such as movie premieres and product launches. Drummond also noted plans to let users generate custom characters through text prompts. While the app is free, brands will have the option to charge for their characters.
Source: TechCrunch