Galápagos: The Last Eden Lets Viewers Converse with a Digital Charles Darwin

Galápagos: The Last Eden is an Android XR nature experience that lets viewers converse with a Gemini-powered digital Charles Darwin. It is being presented in the official Venice Immersive competition, while a public Google Play release is planned without a confirmed date.

A Darwin built for conversation

Rather than presenting Darwin only as a narrator or historical figure, the work allows each viewer to hold a personalized conversation with a digital reconstruction of him. Google says the character uses conversational spatial AI tools from Vertex and Gemini, with answers grounded in Darwin’s observations and original writings from 1835.

Wildlife filmed for a close VR180 encounter

The four-part, 60-minute VR180 experience was created by Atlantic Studios filmmaker Anthony Geffen and is narrated by Margot Robbie. Its Galápagos footage was captured in 16K 3D.

Interactive scenes feature marine iguanas, giant tortoises and Galápagos penguins, while the wider journey covers the islands’ volcanic formation and surrounding oceans.

Venice first, Android XR release later

The Venice presentation runs on Xreal Aura and was selected for the festival’s official immersive competition. A Google Play release for Android XR devices is planned, but no public launch date or final list of supported devices has been announced.