Nvidia has announced that they have invested in six different Artificial Intelligence (AI) startups over the course of the last year.
The startups come from three different countries and have been selected as part of Nvidia’s GPU Venture Program and marks the company’s latest foray into the field of AI.
Over the last twelve months the chip making giant has invested in notable startups Abeja, a Tokyo startup which uses AI to enhance the cloud in retail analytics, Datalogue, based in New York which utilises AI to improve data mining and data preparation, and Optimus Ride, an MIT company that develops autonomous vehicle technologies.
The company has also backed Soundhound, based in silicon valley and developer of powerful AI voice assistants. TempoQuest, which generates advanced weather forecasting using SaaS in Las Vegas, and Zebra Medical, an Israeli health company which is exploring the applications of computer vision and medical images.
On top of this Nvidia’s Inception programme, the company’s deep learning and AI startup incubator, currently has over 1,300 members all working towards bettering the understanding of artificial intelligence.
This is just one way in which the company has being trying to generate innovation in AI. Last week 14 members of the Inception Program were invited to a contest for $1.5 million in funding, the highest any startup competition offers.
Regarding the contest, Kimberley Powell, Nvidia’s senior director of business development said: “We want to give startups exactly what they need to be successful.”
“Those named one of the world’s best will not only get a bunch of ‘no-strings-attached cash’ but their story will be told on a global stage at GTC, helping bring more customers and top-tier talent.”
Nvidia also recently announced that they will be working with Bosch on developing a new high powered artificial intelligence driving system, designed to take the vehicles to the next level of autonomy.
The company is also preparing for its GPU Technology conference in San Jose, Calif., on May 8-May 11.
