MUMBAI: Making waves at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Cryptors in the City is being positioned as the world’s first AI-powered cultural app. Free, ad-free, and multilingual, this innovative app transforms cities into immersive playgrounds where history comes alive, reimagining exploration as an interactive adventure.
At the heart of the app are Cryptors—pixelated ceramic artworks crafted by renowned comic artist Guillaume Mazurage (Mazu). Strategically installed near iconic landmarks, these street art creations come to life through a simple smartphone scan. Acting as guides and companions, Cryptors engage users with interactive challenges, fascinating insights, and fun-filled exploration.
Founded in 2023 by Louis de Carolis, Mazu, and Florent de Carolis, Cryptors in the City blends cutting-edge technology with a passion for cultural preservation. Supported by esteemed institutions like Château de Cheverny, Deauville, and the Île-de-France municipalities, the app aims to captivate global audiences by fostering intergenerational connections and promoting immersive tourism.
With Cryptors in the City, users become the heroes of their own cultural journeys. Each step transforms into a treasure hunt, seamlessly blending history with modern exploration. Iconic locations become starting points for immersive quests, making every walk an engaging and educational experience.
Inspired by 1980s retro gaming aesthetics, the pixelated Cryptors come to life with enriched conversational AI. These historical figures share captivating anecdotes, pose thought-provoking quizzes, and offer personalized challenges. High scores unlock unlimited access to conversations with Cryptors, each imbued with a unique personality and deep historical knowledge. Imagine exchanging ideas with Aurangzeb or Mahatma Gandhi in real time!
"With Cryptors in the City, history and heritage become interactive playgrounds," says Mazu, the app’s artistic director & co-founder. "Reimagining historical figures through a fresh lens makes them accessible and relatable to younger generations. For CES, Sacajawea was the perfect choice."
Cryptors in the City was founded with three key objectives: to preserve and share cultural heritage in innovative ways; to bridge generational gaps and captivate younger audiences and to offer immersive, year-round tourism experiences.
By blending street art, AI, and retro gaming aesthetics, the app creates an engaging, interactive universe. "Our goal is to transform tourism into a connected, educational, and entertaining adventure," says Louis de Carolis, the app’s president & co-founder.
With over 3.09 billion gamers worldwide (expected to grow to 3.32 billion by 2024), gaming is a powerful tool for engaging communities. Cryptors in the City draws inspiration from this global phenomenon, merging gaming elements with cultural exploration to connect users with history while revitalising cities and tourist sites.
Cryptors in the City is preparing for its next chapter with a fundraising campaign. Its key goals include: enhancing user experiences with augmented reality, creating dynamic 3D playgrounds; expanding to new cities across France and exploring opportunities in international markets. This vision aims to overlay immersive, interactive elements onto real-world settings, transforming streets and monuments into vibrant, living experiences.
Whether enjoyed solo, with friends, or as a family, Cryptors in the City transforms exploration into meaningful adventures. By integrating diverse forms of heritage—cultural, historical, artistic, natural, and even sports-related—the app creates connections across generations and offers a revolutionary way to experience the world.
Cryptors in the City is more than just an app—it’s a bridge between the past and the future, powered by the creativity of its founders and the limitless possibilities of AI.
