From Niantic to LVMH: Mathieu de Fayet on innovation, AI, and building the future

Few individuals bridge the gap between technology and consumers as seamlessly as Mathieu de Fayet. From being on the founding team of Niantic, the creators of Pokémon GO, to spearheading applied innovation at LVMH, Mathieu’s career took him on a “wild ride” on both sides of the Atlantic. Speaking with us for the Selected podcast during Web Summit 2024, he shared insights on blending creativity with emerging technologies like AI and blockchain, and the lessons learned from Silicon Valley, the luxury industry, and his favorite books.

Pokémon GO: thinking big

Being part of launching Pokémon GO was a milestone in Mathieu’s career. Despite starting with a small team of just 35 people, the game became a cultural phenomenon, achieving over a billion downloads and generating substantial revenue. Mathieu attributes this success to visionary leadership and close collaboration between engineering and business. What makes the difference between visionaries and others, he said, is the ability to think big, even with a small team.

AI’s role in luxury: blending creativity and technology

At LVMH, Mathieu’s job title is Chief Applied Innovation Officer. “Every word counts, except maybe the word chief,” he joked. Joke aside, the main word here is “Applied”; rather than ten years from now, the AI Factory he leads focuses on what can be done within the next three years to leverage AI across the product lifecycle—from conception to after-sales services. He shared an example of AI enhancing customer relationships, for instance by playing the role of a co-pilot for sales associates at Tiffany’s, connecting past purchases and life events to suggest the perfect next product.

Embracing emerging tech in the luxury sector

Mathieu emphasized that innovation in luxury requires a delicate balance of tradition and technology. At LVMH, efforts include creating digital twins for products and combating counterfeiting with blockchain technology. The group also explores immersive experiences to elevate customer satisfaction in stores. When buying a bag, for instance, “the experience that you get when you buy it is something that makes the difference between like a top, top, top luxury store versus another one,” Mathieu explained.

Our conversation also covered the books he recommends, how other French techies have found success in Silicon Valley before him, why he moved back to Europe, and more. Having shared the stage with Mathieu at VivaTech in 2016, right before the launch of Pokémon GO, made this episode particularly special, and we hope you’ll enjoy listening to it.