Apple Makes Strategic Move with Acquisition of AI Startup DarwinAI
In a strategic move to enhance its AI capabilities, Apple has quietly acquired Canada-based startup DarwinAI, which specializes in vision-based technology to improve manufacturing efficiency. While the deal has not been officially announced, several members of DarwinAI’s team have reportedly joined Apple’s machine learning teams.
DarwinAI had previously raised over $15 million in funding from investors such as BDC Capital’s Deep Tech Venture Fund, Honeywell Ventures, Obvious Ventures, and Inovia Capital. BDC Capital has confirmed receiving an exit from DarwinAI, while Obvious Ventures has updated its portfolio to reflect the acquisition. However, both organizations have declined to comment on the story.
Apple has also remained tight-lipped about the acquisition, and a response is still awaited. DarwinAI’s expertise lies in making AI models smaller and faster, which could prove beneficial for on-device generative AI features that Apple plans to introduce in iOS 18. Currently, Apple has been trailing behind competitors like OpenAI, Google, Meta, and Microsoft in releasing GenAI-powered features.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has previously confirmed the company’s investment in GenAI efforts and stated that they plan to introduce new features later this year. Job listings at Apple also suggest that the tech giant is exploring AI in areas such as Siri, developer tools, and customer support. With this acquisition, Apple aims to bolster its AI capabilities and potentially bridge the gap with its competitors in the AI space.
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