Apple Acquires AI Startup to Enhance Manufacturing Efficiency
Apple has recently made another acquisition in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), this time with Canadian startup DarwinAI. According to Bloomberg, DarwinAI specializes in vision-based technology that can observe components during the manufacturing process, ultimately improving efficiency.
While neither Apple nor DarwinAI have officially announced the acquisition, it has been revealed that several members of the startup’s team joined Apple’s machine learning teams in January. These details were found on their LinkedIn profiles, indicating that the acquisition has indeed taken place.
DarwinAI had managed to secure over $15 million in funding from various investors, including BDC Capital’s Deep Tech Venture Fund, Honeywell Ventures, Obvious Ventures, and Inovia Capital. BDC Capital has confirmed on its website that it has received an exit from DarwinAI, while Obvious Ventures has updated its portfolio to reflect the startup’s acquisition.
Both BDC Capital and Obvious Ventures have refrained from commenting on the matter at this time. Apple has also chosen not to respond to requests for comment regarding the acquisition.
Bloomberg’s report highlights that DarwinAI’s expertise extends beyond manufacturing efficiency. The startup also utilizes techniques to make AI models smaller and faster. This particular aspect could prove invaluable for Apple’s plans to introduce on-device generative AI features in iOS 18 later this year.
When compared to competitors like OpenAI, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, Apple has been slower in releasing AI-powered features. However, during a quarterly earnings call with analysts in February, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that the company intends to introduce such features “later this year.”
Cook added, “We continue to spend a tremendous amount of time and effort, and we’re excited to share the details of our ongoing work in that space later this year.” Last year, Cook had confirmed Apple’s investment into gen-AI efforts.
In addition to this recent acquisition, Apple has been actively exploring AI integration in various areas, both internally and externally. Job listings from the company suggest that AI could play a significant role in Siri, developer tools, and customer support.
As Apple continues to expand its AI capabilities, the acquisition of DarwinAI demonstrates the company’s commitment to improving manufacturing efficiency and enhancing its AI-powered features. With the talent and technology brought in from this acquisition, Apple is poised to make significant strides in the AI industry in the coming years.