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Samsung boosts offering with acquisition of AI firm Viv Labs

Elliot Mulley-Goodbarne
October 6, 2016

Manufacturer intends to use technology to enable users to integrate better with mobile devices and home appliances 

Samsung has acquired artificial intelligence specialists Viv Labs for an undisclosed sum in a bid to boost its own AI offering across its devices.

Viv Labs, which is headquartered in San Jose, has developed an open platform for third parties to build their own personal assistant. Apple, amongst others, have used its service to develop Siri.

Using this platform developers can also create and teach systems how to use existing applications whilst learning from the user and therefore getting smarter and more intelligent with consistent usage.

Samsung chief technology officer Injong Rhee said: “Viv was built with both consumers and developers in mind. This is what attracted us to Viv as an ideal candidate to integrate with Samsung home appliances, wearables and more.”

Viv Labs co-founder and CEO Dag Kittlaus added: We’re building the simplest way for anyone to talk to devices and services everywhere. We see a future that is decidedly beyond apps€”where you can get what you need quickly and easily no matter where you are, or what device you are near.

“Samsung offers us a unique opportunity to deliver a single conversational interface to the world’s apps and services across a diverse range of products, at global scale.”

Kittlaus, along with his co-founders, Adam Cheyer and Chris Brisham, will work closely with Samsung’s Mobile Communications business but will still operate as an independent company.

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