- One of DarwinAI’s core technologies is making artificial intelligence systems smaller and faster, which could help Apple run AI on devices
- Despite having acquired more AI companies than most rivals over the past decade, Apple has fallen behind in the generative AI market
OUR TAKE
He acquisition allows for the visual inspection of parts in the manufacturing process with DarwinAI’s technology and serves customers in a range of industries. Also, it can use its core technology to make AI systems smaller and faster. This work will help Apple focused on running AI on its devices, rather than entirely in the cloud.
-Jennifer YU, BTW reporter
Apple has acquired Canadian artificial intelligence (AI) start-up DarwinAI, adding technology ahead of a big push into generative AI in 2024.
Benefits
According to the Canadian start-up community Communitech, Waterloo, Ontario-based DarwinAI had raised more than US$15 million as of 2022. It received investments from Honeywell Ventures and Inovia Capital, among other venture capital firms.
Apple shares briefly gained on the news, rising more than 1% to US$173.37. With the acquisition of DarwinAI, Apple will “break new ground” in artificial intelligence this year.
Also read: Apple to allow users in EU to download apps from third parties
Apple’s use of AI
Despite having acquired more AI companies than most rivals over the past decade, Apple has fallen behind in the generative AI market. It was caught flat-footed by the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022, and tech peers like Google and Microsoft have stolen the spotlight with new features.
Internally, Apple has begun integrating generative AI into its operations, using the technology to assist with customer service requests. It is also planning to add features to its software for auto-creating presentations and completing blocks of text.
Alexander Wong, an AI researcher at the University of Waterloo who helped build the business, has joined Apple as a director in its AI group as part of the deal.
