Samsung has announced its purchase of Oxford Semantic Technologies. The UK AI startup specialises in the production of knowledge graph software. Though it did not reveal the sum it paid to acquire the firm, the South Korean tech giant said the deal would allow it to secure new capabilities in this area for its mobile-based AI services and other product lines.
“Samsung Electronics has been collaborating with Oxford Semantic Technologies on various projects since 2018, including investment from Samsung Ventures,” said Samsung. “With the acquisition, [the firm] will secure advanced core engines for personal knowledge graphs which integrate information and context dispersed across various services and apps, crafting a user experience that is tailor-made by becoming increasingly familiar with users’ preferences and usage.”
Deal will boost AI on a range of Samsung devices
Founded as a spinout from the University of Oxford’s computer science department in 2017 by professors Boris Motik, Bernardo Cuenca Grau and Ian Horrocks, Oxford Semantic Technologies’ leading product is RDFox – knowledge graph software the startup claims allows companies to merge and reason from complex and diverse data sets. “Use cases,” said the firm, “include recommendation engines, product configurators, integration of maps for autonomous vehicles and anomaly detection in financial transactions.”
Oxford Semantic Technologies counts customers across North America, Europe, and Asia, including Samsung. Bringing the startup into the fold will, said the South Korean firm, allow it to leverage the former’s software to great “hyper-personalised user experiences” on-device across multiple product lines, including home appliances, televisions and mobile phones. Oxford Semantic Technologies’ expertise is expected to be harnessed in the latter segment first, as Samsung pushes its new ‘Galaxy AI’ features for its Galaxy phone range.
“We are delighted to be working with Samsung,” said Oxford Semantic Technologies’ chief executive, Peter Crocker. “By integrating [the firm’s] expertise in user experience and data with our advanced knowledge graph and reasoning technology, we will provide Samsung’s customers with even more sophisticated personalisation. In addition, developing RDFox with [the company], and being part of the larger group, will provide all of our clients with an even better product, service and support.”
New AI-inspired M&A strategy possible for South Korean tech giant
Oxford Semantic Technologies’ acquisition could mark a return for Samsung to the mergers and acquisitions market. Another sign that the big tech firm is intent on an acquisitions-based strategy to strengthen its supply chain for AI is the reappointment of Ahn Joonghyun to its Management Support Division. Ahn struck several major deals for the chaebol as its former head of M&A, not least its acquisition of automobile electronics firm Harman International in 2017.
While Samsung has added to its AI intellectual property, however, it continues to weather industrial action in its chipmaking division. Earlier this month, workers at its Hwaseong chip fabrication plant embarked on a three-day strike having failed to agree on a deal with management over proposals to improve pay and reform holiday and bonus allocation procedures. That strike has since been extended indefinitely, said the National Samsung Electronics Union in a statement on 10 July, adding that the group was “confident of our victory” over its employer.
Read more: Graphcore acquired by Softbank
