Artificial intelligence is the future of big tech — and is already an integral part of the consumer and enterprise products at Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, and Google.
Now network connectivity providers like Cisco and Oracle are integrating advanced machine learning algorithms into their IT and cloud infrastructures, while GE has focused its efforts on AI for the industrial internet of things.
AI start-ups have played a huge role in advancing the internal R&D efforts at big tech companies:
• Google was one of the earliest corporations to start acquiring private companies to advance its own AI research. It is now the most active acquirer in the space.
• Amazon‘s 2013 acquisition of Evi Technologies played a huge role in the development of the now popular Amazon Alexa.
• Apple, although secretive about its projects, has been ramping up its M&A activity in recent months.
Although the venture arms of Google and Intel have invested in a broad range of AI applications, their direct investments and acquisitions have been more strategically focused. (For instance, Google’s move into the Chinese market with a $60M round to Mobvoi, and Intel’s acquisition of AI hardware start-ups Movidius and Nervana Systems).
No comments:
Post a Comment