Liquid Interactive, a new venture from Canadian AI studio AXL, has officially launched with C$700,000 in pre-seed funding. Co-founded by CEO Sasha Ivanov and CTO Ben Pearman, the company aims to redefine human-computer interaction by moving beyond text-based AI. Their vision is to usher in a new era where AI experiences are primarily visual and interactive.
Pioneering Visual AI Interaction
The company is betting that the next evolution of artificial intelligence will be centered on rich, dynamic visuals rather than simple conversational prompts. Its inaugural product, Liquid Photos, embodies this philosophy by transforming static images from a camera roll into immersive experiences. Users can swipe through, pull apart, and explore these creations in a completely new way.
This technology allows for novel applications, such as reconstructing a hiking trail from a series of photos or letting users inspect the inner workings of an object without a 3D scan. The platform is designed for easy sharing, with every interactive experience being exportable as a video or shareable online. The Liquid Photos app is now available for free download, inviting users to explore its capabilities.
Early Traction and Market Reception
Even before its official launch, Liquid Interactive generated significant buzz within the tech community. Early demonstrations of the technology shared on social media platforms X and Instagram quickly amassed more than one million views. This strong initial interest signals a market appetite for more advanced, visually-driven AI applications.
The impressive demos also captured the attention of influential figures across the technology landscape. The company noted engagement from leaders at prominent organizations including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Apple, and Adobe. This high-profile validation underscores the potential impact of Liquid Interactive's innovative approach to AI.
Strategic Vision and Future Roadmap
Liquid Photos is just the first step in the company's broader strategy to build a suite of products on its core technology. The next planned release is Liquid Studio, a tool designed for brands, agencies, and creative teams. This platform will enable professional users to create custom interactive experiences from standard product photography.
The founding duo, Ivanov and Pearman, honed their skills while working within the AXL studio, where Ivanov was a lead prototyper and Pearman served as an engineer. Their prior entrepreneurial experience includes co-founding Maple Scan, a successful iOS application that garnered over 130,000 downloads. This track record demonstrates their capability in bringing innovative consumer applications to market.
The AXL Philosophy on AI's Future
The investment from AXL reflects a strategic focus on the applied layer of artificial intelligence rather than foundational model-building. Daniel Wigdor, AXL's co-founder and CEO, emphasized this view on the industry's trajectory. He stated that the most impactful companies will be those that invent new ways for people to interact with AI.
With its C$700,000 in funding and a clear vision, Liquid Interactive is poised to challenge the dominance of text-based AI. The successful debut of Liquid Photos and the significant early interest suggest a promising future for the company's interactive visual technology. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, this focus on user experience could set a new standard for how we engage with intelligent systems.