The Information reports Apple has acquired AI startup Silk Labs, a company that focuses on making AI software “lightweight enough” for Internet of Things devices such as speakers and cameras. Such technology could be used to improve the performance of Siri in products like Apple’s HomePod speaker.
Silk’s website noted that it aims to “bring next-generation visual and audio intelligence to connected products” with “state-of-the-art image and audio recognition.”
The Silk website says its technology has a large number of potential uses, including home security, retail analytics, package monitoring, digital display metrics, access control, parking lot monitoring, and building surveillance. Its capabilities includes facial recognition, audio and people detection, and object recognition.
The company has released one product, called “Sense,” which was promoted as a “digital brain” for smart home products, communicating with them and learning a person’s needs over time. The product was financed via a Kickstarter three years ago.
The startup was founded by Chris Jones, Michael Vines, and former Mozilla Chief Technology Officer Andreas Gal.
(Via MacRumors)
