Apple acquires Artificial Intelligence startup Perceptio

Perceptio, a start-up company owned by artificial intelligence researchers Nicolas Pinto and Zak Stone, has been acquired by Apple Inc., according to a latest report by Bloomberg.

The start-up is focussed on developing technology “to let companies run advanced AI systems on Smartphones, without needing to share as much user data”. This fits well with the iPhone maker’s strategy, as it is trying to minimize its usage of customer data and do as much processing as possible on the device.

Pinto and Stone specialize in developing image-recognition systems using deep learning, an approach to AI that lets computers learn to identify and classify sensory input. Simply put, deep learning is the subset of machine learning that is based on models of how the human brain identifies patterns.

Apple has confirmed the acquisition to the publication house, however, the terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed.

"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," Colin Johnson, a company spokesman, told Bloomberg.

AppleInsider reported that along with Perceptio's technology, the Cupertino company acquihired Pinto and Stone, with the latter currently holding a position at Apple's California offices.