Apple Acquires Second AI Company in Four Days: AI Arms Race

In its second AI deal in four days, Apple has acquired Perceptio, a small startup focused on developing artificial intelligence techniques.

Apple speeds up its efforts in the tech industry by diverting attention to a much sought after industry - artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly vital as companies roll out and seek to improve virtual assistants such as Apple Siri and Google Now.

Founded by Nicolas Pinto and Zak Stone, Perceptio develops technologies which would let smartphone companies create advanced artificial intelligence systems and run AI image-classification systems on smartphones without relying on external data libraries. Both Stone and Pinto are established artificial intelligence researchers who specialize in creating image-recognition systems using deep learning. Deep learning is a specialized field of artificial intelligence that allows machines to recognize patterns and learn on their own.

This fits Apple's strategy of trying to minimize its usage of customer data and do as much processing as possible on the device. Apple may also be looking at AI to help with its plans to build a self-driving car. Apple is reportedly planning to enter the car business in 2019 with an electric car that is autonomous in nature. Apparently, Apple is conducting tests of self-driving cars and other vehicles at a former US navy base. Documents show the Apple car project, known as Project Titan, appears to be further along than many predicted.

The duo were working on privacy-based artificial intelligence, figuring out how to run complex neural network algorithms on smartphones. Before being acquired by Apple, they were working on facial recognition technology and had released an unrelated video sharing app called Smoothie.

Apple confirmed the purchase with its standard acquisition statement, "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."

Apple's Siri personal assistant has lagged behind competing services like Google Now and Microsoft Cortana because of Apple's strict privacy policies and its reluctance to collect and utilize user data. It is possible the Perceptio purchase will allow Apple to improve Siri without compromising on its dedication to user privacy.

Last week, the computer software development company acquired another AI company - VocalIQ, a UK-based startup developing technology to help computers understand human speech. Google, Facebook and Microsoft are all engaged in an AI arms race, hiring experts in the field from academia and acquiring specialized startups.