Sunday, 4 October 2015

Apple acquires VocalIQ

Apple Inc. acquired a UK software startup that could give its digital assistant Siri a boost. VocalIQ has built software aimed at making it easier for people to speak to computers in a more natural way, an area in which Siri and other voice recognition services have struggled. The company has been particularly focused on selling its product to auto manufacturers including a partnership with General Motors Co.
VocalIQ Technology is based on Machine Learning, an area of Artificial Intelligence in which a computer improves as it ingests more information. As a person uses VocalIQ Software it helps a device become more accurate at predicting what commands to execute. Other technology companies including Google and Facebook have been conducting similar research in this area.

Apple has been steadily improving Siri since its debut in 2011. While at first criticized for understanding only the most rudimentary of requests, the company has been adding features for getting sports scores, setting reminders, searching for an iPhone picture or finding directions. Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and generally discuss purpose and plans. 

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