Snap spins off AI video team into new company, Dotmo, due to costs

Snap 因成本考量将 AI 视频团队分拆为新公司 Dotmo

Snap will be spinning off an internal generative AI video team into a separate company. The new company — dubbed Dotmo — will focus on developing AI models that can create interactive gaming experiences, Snap told TechCrunch. Snap 将把内部的一个生成式 AI 视频团队分拆为一家独立公司。Snap 向 TechCrunch 表示，这家名为 Dotmo 的新公司将专注于开发能够创造交互式游戏体验的 AI 模型。

Snap cited the high costs of conducting such work internally as one of the reasons for the spinoff. While technically a separate company, Dotmo will retain its close ties to the Snapchat creator. For one thing, Snap will provide Dotmo with a license to adapt its technology for gaming and interactive entertainment platforms. Snap 将内部开展此类工作的成本高昂列为分拆原因之一。虽然从技术上讲 Dotmo 是一家独立公司，但它仍将与 Snapchat 的母公司保持密切联系。首先，Snap 将向 Dotmo 提供技术授权，允许其将相关技术应用于游戏和交互式娱乐平台。

At the same time, the initial Dotmo team will consist of a group of current Snap staff who are leaving Snap to launch the new venture. Additionally, while Dotmo won’t be funded by Snap directly, the company says that Bobby Murphy, its chief technology officer, will act as lead investor and will have a significant personal stake in the new firm. 与此同时，Dotmo 的初始团队将由一批离开 Snap 去创办这家新公司的现任员工组成。此外，虽然 Dotmo 不会直接由 Snap 提供资金，但该公司表示，其首席技术官 Bobby Murphy 将担任领投人，并在新公司中持有相当大的个人股份。

Though a financial backer, Murphy will continue to work for Snap full-time as its CTO and continue to lead its GenAI research and development initiatives. In exchange for the talent and the technology license, Snap will get a large equity stake in Dotmo, the company said — a position that could prove rewarding if the company prospers in the future. Dotmo may also eventually seek outside funding, Snap said. 尽管 Murphy 是财务支持者，但他将继续全职担任 Snap 的 CTO，并继续领导其生成式 AI 的研发工作。Snap 表示，作为提供人才和技术授权的交换，Snap 将获得 Dotmo 的大量股权——如果该公司未来发展顺利，这一持股可能会带来丰厚回报。Snap 还表示，Dotmo 未来也可能会寻求外部融资。

The move marks Snap’s second major spinoff effort this year. Earlier in 2026, Snap spun off Specs into a new company to focus exclusively on the development of its smart glasses line. (Snap’s recent unveiling of Specs wasn’t exactly a home run for the company. Snap’s stock tanked after concerns were raised about the hefty price tag attached to the new smart glasses, which is around $2,200.) 此举标志着 Snap 今年第二次重大的分拆行动。2026 年早些时候，Snap 将 Specs 分拆为一家新公司，专门专注于其智能眼镜产品线的开发。（Snap 最近发布的 Specs 表现并不尽如人意。由于市场对这款智能眼镜约 2200 美元的高昂定价表示担忧，Snap 的股价随之下跌。）

Snap also underwent a round of layoffs earlier this year, during which some 1,000 jobs were cut. Dotmo represents a different kind of spinoff than the Specs operation, in that its team will be focused on developing digital experiences that aren’t currently a part of Snap’s core business priorities, a Snap representative said. However, it could still be considered a partner in the future if the fit seems right, they added. Snap 今年早些时候还进行了一轮裁员，约 1000 个岗位被削减。Snap 的一位代表表示，Dotmo 与 Specs 的分拆性质不同，因为其团队将专注于开发目前不属于 Snap 核心业务重点的数字体验。不过他们补充说，如果未来契合度合适，Dotmo 仍可能被视为合作伙伴。

Spin-offs can be a cost-savings strategy for companies, although they can serve a variety of other purposes — like showing off a particular asset, generating investor attention, or providing operational flexibility to the team involved. In spinning out Dotmo, Snap may be reducing the financial burden associated with its AI efforts, while still maintaining exposure to any potential upside through its equity stake. 分拆对公司而言可以是一种节省成本的策略，尽管它也可以实现多种其他目的，例如展示特定资产、吸引投资者关注，或为相关团队提供运营灵活性。通过分拆 Dotmo，Snap 可能在减轻其 AI 投入带来的财务负担的同时，仍能通过股权持有保持对潜在收益的参与。