Platform as a service (PAAS) featuring computer software platforms for linking physical objects with digital content and services, generating and managing QR codes and other digital identifiers for physical objects, managing and interacting with physical objects through AI-powered digital assistants, and providing augmented reality features for overlaying public and private digital content onto physical objects and surroundings; cloud computing services featuring software for artificial intelligence-powered assistance, messaging linked to physical objects, blockchain-based tracking of ownership and usage history, and business data analytics of user interactions with physical objects and digital content; Software as a Service (SaaS) for connecting the physical and digital worlds through object identification and augmented reality technologies