Apple’s latest acquisition is a company called Xnor.ai, and Apple reportedly paid $200 million to acquire them.
The news comes in an exclusive report from GeekWired who have learned about the acquisition, this has yet to be confirmed by Apple.
Apple did say that “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”, this is their standard answer when asked about recent acquisitions.
What is Xnor.ai?
Xnor.ai has a software tool that uses Artificial Intelligence to recognize objects, the software is used directly from an iPhone rather than from the cloud. This is something that Apple could possibly integrate into their iOS software. The technology developed by Xnor.ai is particularly notable for its efficiency and ability to run AI algorithms on-device, which means it doesn’t require a constant internet connection to function. This can lead to faster processing times and enhanced privacy for users, as data does not need to be sent to external servers.
The company was spun out of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2), which was founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Xnor.ai’s technology has been praised for its low power consumption, making it ideal for mobile devices and other hardware with limited battery life.
Potential Applications and Future Integration
If the acquisition is confirmed by Apple in the future, it will be interesting to see what their software is used for. Apple has made a number of acquisitions related to Artificial Intelligence and also Augmented Reality over the last few years. For instance, Apple acquired the AR company Metaio in 2015, which has since contributed to the development of ARKit, Apple’s augmented reality platform. Similarly, the acquisition of Xnor.ai could lead to significant advancements in Apple’s AI capabilities.
One potential application of Xnor.ai’s technology could be in enhancing the capabilities of the iPhone’s camera. By integrating on-device AI, Apple could improve object recognition, scene detection, and even enable new features such as real-time translation or augmented reality experiences. Additionally, this technology could be used to enhance Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, making it more responsive and capable of understanding and processing commands without needing to connect to the cloud.
Another area where Xnor.ai’s technology could be beneficial is in Apple’s wearable devices, such as the Apple Watch. By incorporating efficient AI algorithms, Apple could introduce new health monitoring features, improve activity tracking, and offer more personalized user experiences.
Moreover, the acquisition aligns with Apple’s focus on user privacy. By processing data on-device rather than in the cloud, Apple can ensure that user information remains secure and private. This is particularly important in today’s digital age, where concerns about data privacy and security are paramount.
The acquisition of Xnor.ai by Apple, if confirmed, could have significant implications for the future of Apple’s products and services. The integration of Xnor.ai’s on-device AI technology could lead to enhanced performance, new features, and improved privacy for users. As Apple continues to invest in AI and AR, it will be fascinating to see how these technologies shape the future of their devices and software.
Source GeekWire
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