Apple acquires Canadian startup DarwinAI in undisclosed deal

Apple has acquired a slew of AI Startups over the last decade, but has fallen behind in generative AI capabilities compared to rivals such as Google and Microsoft. Apple has also indicated an increased focus in AI integration going forward. The latest acquisition of Darwin AI has not been publicly disclosed.

Apple’s logo at the company’s store in Cupertino, California. (Image Credit: AFP).

New Delhi: Apple has silently acquired the Canadian startup DarwinAI. Dozens of employees from DarwinAI have joined the artificial intelligence division within Apple, with Alexander Wong, an AI researcher from the University of Waterloo who helped build DarwinAI, joining Apple as the Director of its AI group. The deal has not been publicly announced, and has been reported by Bloomberg. Darwin AI has developed technology for the visual inspection of printed circuit boards (PCBs), but it’s core capabilities is developing lightweight, on-device AI technologies.

The tech developed for the inspection of PCBs combines AI capabilities, the hardware and the software into a system that can be easily integrated the manufacturing process. Custom hardware is also one of the core competencies of the company. The company was founded in 2017, based on research developed by Wong. The foundational IP of the company is tuned towards robust and trustworthy performance, with a faster time-to-market capabilities.

Apple is lagging in AI capabilities

DarwinAI is just the latest in a string of AI acquisitions by Apple, which has previously picked up UK based AI music, Finland based Curious AI, Ireland based Voysis and US based Xnor.ai. One of the most famous AI acquisitions by Apple has been that of Siri in 2010, which originally started as a third party app that was later on deeply integrated with the Apple ecosystem. Apple is lagging in generative AI capabilities compared to competitors such as Microsoft and Google. Microsoft has deeply integrated OpenAI tech into its products, while Google is also expected to integrate Gemini in its services going forward.

Apple’s generative AI push

According to multiple previous reports, Apple is expected to deeply integrate generative AI capabilities in the upcoming iOS 18, expected to be announced at WWDC in June. The generative AI capabilities are expected to be integrated with Siri, Messages, Pages, Keynote and even Apple Music. Tim Cook has also hinted at an AI-integrated future for Apple while speaking to investors earlier in the year. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the generative AI capabilities with deep integration are not expected for the iPhone 16, but the subsequent iPhone 17 expected in 2025. Kuo’s analysis hints at a more measured approach, with some AI capabilities in iOS 18.