Welcome to the Twilio Arcade at SIGNAL San Francisco 2025

The Twilio Arcade at SIGNAL San Francisco 2025

Ever wished you could step inside an arcade game – through the screen, past the flashing lights, and into the gameplay? That’s a reality in the Twilio Arcade at this year’s Twilio SIGNAL conference in San Francisco.

This retro-futuristic, immersive experience wasn’t just about nostalgia or gaming – it was powered by Twilio products and services and a layer of data-driven magic, all orchestrated by Segment.

Curious about what experiences await you? Read on for an overview, and see what products we used to build the Twilio Arcade. If you want to dive into the code, check out the GitHub repo.

Live caricature booth - strike a pose

Imagine stepping up to a photo booth where instead of just snapping a quick picture you're connected to a caricature artist via live video. This artist sketches your likeness in real time, turning your moment into a personalized work of art!

Walk away with a printed keepsake, or instantly receive your digital copy from Twilio Arcade – delivered straight to your phone via SMS, WhatsApp, or RCS, or sent to your email inbox with SendGrid, ready to keep or share with friends.

Powered by:

• Twilio Segment : Collects and manages data to track interaction with the photobooth and collect points.
• Twilio Video : Enables real-time video chats between you, a Twilio host, and the remote artist sketching your caricature.
• Twilio Programmable Messaging : You’ll get a notification that your caricature has been completed with a link to the digital copy via SMS, WhatsApp, or RCS.
• Twilio SendGrid : Delivers your digital caricature right to your email inbox so you can easily save and share it.

This experience is a custom application built on Twilio Video. Users join a video call with a remote Twilion that will welcome them and guide them through the experience. You can add fun filters to your video that were added using TensorFlow. You will also be joined by a remote cartoonist who is ready to create a custom caricature image of you. Capture your ideal photo and the artist on the other end will get to work!

Once it is ready you’ll receive a message letting you know it has been completed with a link to the finished product. On site attendees can also swing by the swag booth to pick up a physical print. Segment is used to track game completion and award points to the user!

Owlvin AI: Create your own conversational bot

Bring your bot-building ideas to life with Owlvin AI. You can customize your own conversational agent, choose its personality, set its responses, and tune how it interacts.

Put your bot to the test by calling it through Twilio Voice and ConversationRelay.

Powered by:

• Twilio Segment : Collects and manages attendee data for personalized bot experiences. Stores your personalized AI Agent with your profile. Tracks activation completion for points.
• Twilio Programmable Voice : Powers the interaction with your bot via live interactive phone calls.
• Twilio ConversationRelay : Enables smooth, real-time AI-powered interactions.
• Twilio Programmable Messaging : You’ll get a link with the number to contact your AI Agent again if you would like.

Choose your AI Agent’s tone, mood, and topic of conversation. These decisions will determine how the agent sounds and interacts with you. Choose wisely! Once your selections are final, we will dynamically generate your AI Agent and give you a QR code to scan from your mobile device. Press call and you’ll be connected to your newly created AI Agent. Information is being tracked through Segment to both mark the activation as completed, reward the user with points, and keep track of the agent that belongs to you.

Mission Possible? Take Command with Owl Ops

Step up to the retro mission control console and take charge! Complete quick, action-packed challenges using a real life corded phone with three possible scenarios including OwlShoes, Owl Air and OwlMobile. Each call uses Twilio tech to shape your outcome. Every choice you make is tracked and logged.

Powered by:

• Twilio Programmable Voice : Powers the interactive calls on a classically inspired VOIP handset.
• Twilio ConversationRelay : Enables smooth, real-time AI-powered interactions.
• Twilio Segment : Tracks your progress and logs every action to customize and personalize the experience.
• Twilio Functions: Functions power the AI Agent’s tools and notify the web application of task completion.

Engage with three unique missions engaging with an AI Agent. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to attempt to get the AI Agent to complete the assigned tasks within the allotted time. Succeed, and you secure the necessary points. Fail, and it will self-destruct. Well, maybe not literally, but you will need to try again. The AI Agent will utilize valuable knowledge sources and Twilio Functions to aid you in the completion of these tasks. Once all tasks have been completed successfully the data is stored in Segment and the points are awarded to the attendee profile.

Please Don’t Tell: Discover the Twilion’s Secret Backroom

Not everything at the Twilio Arcade is as it seems. Spot an “Out of Service” arcade machine? Here’s a hint: look closer. Hidden behind this unassuming façade is a secret adventure waiting to be unlocked!

Follow the clues and rack up valuable points (all tracked through Segment) to gain access to our hidden backroom, a space pulsing with futuristic arcade vibes and neon nostalgia.

Once inside, you’ll find an informative wall diagram that reveals how Twilio products bring the whole experience to life. Want to put your luck to the test? Grab the controls on our claw machine and try to snag an exclusive prize to take home.

Twilion’s Backroom is more than just a cool hangout. It’s a live demonstration of Twilio’s technology in action, combining seamless access, real-time engagement, and a dash of playful mystery.

Are you ready to find what’s hiding behind the “Out of Service” sign?

Leveling up event experiences

Why build all of these custom experiences? Because we believe technology should feel magical. With our suite of products and services, we wanted to demo personalized adventures that would delight you. Hopefully you come away inspired to create your own great experiences whether that’s at a conference, a retail pop-up, or your company’s next big bash!

Ready Player?

The next time you see an ‘Out of Service’ sign at Twilio, don’t walk away! It might just be your invitation to step into a world where Twilio turns everyday moments into unforgettable memories.

As a Developer Evangelist at Twilio, Luis Leão helps web developers connect with people and build the future of communication through APIs. Currently, he is a Google Developer Expert in Firebase, he has taught programming for schools with Miami Ad School and EBAC, and co-organized technology communities such as Google Developer Group of São Paulo, for 8 years. In addition, he has worked with IoT projects in digital agencies, building interactive installations for companies such as Google, Vivo, and Fiat. You can find Luis in the Twilio Activation Zone in the community hall at SIGNAL San Francisco or online at LinkedIn and Twitter .