Apple has reportedly acquired Seattle-based artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning startup Turi for about $200m.
Turi toolkits simplify development of machine learning models. Each incorporates automatic feature engineering, model selection, and machine learning visualisations specific to the application.
The company’s products, which include the Turi Machine Learning Platform, GraphLab Create, Turi Predictive Services and Turi Distributed, help large and small organisations make better sense of data.
Turi, which has so far raised over $25m in funding, was formerly known as Dato and GraphLab. It started as an open-source project at Carnegie Mellon in 2009.
Apple did not confirm the deal, which was first reported by GeekWire. The iPhone maker has however provided its standard statement when it makes such purchases.
The company said in a statement: “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”
Turi’s team is expected to remain in the Seattle region, where Apple has been establishing a presence over the past two years.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has discussed the iPhone giant's shift into artificial intelligence during the company's last month earnings call.
"We have been and continue to invest a lot in this," Cook said. "We are high on AR for the long run."
Turi is not the Apple's first AI-related acquisition. The company has earlier bought machine learning startup Perceptio and natural language processing company VocalIQ.
