Scyfer has developed AI solutions for verticals including manufacturing, healthcare and finance
U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm Technologies announced the acquisition of Dutch firm Scyfer, an affiliate of the University of Amsterdam focused on machine learning techniques. Scyfer has built artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for companies worldwide and in a number of different industries, such as manufacturing, healthcare and finance.
“We started fundamental research a decade ago, and our current products now support many AI use cases from computer vision and natural language processing to malware detection on a variety of devices — such as smartphones and cars — and we are researching broader topics, such as AI for wireless connectivity, power management and photography,” said Matt Grob, executive vice president, technology, at Qualcomm Incorporated.
Qualcomm Technologies said it is focused on the implementation of AI on end devices – smartphones, cars, robotics, and the like – to ensure that processing can be done with or without a network or Wi-Fi connection. The benefits of on-device AI include immediate response, enhanced reliability, increased privacy protection, and efficient use of network bandwidth, the chipmaker said.
Qualcomm also confirmed that the Scyfer team will continue to be based in Amsterdam. In 2015, Qualcomm Technologies and the University of Amsterdam also established QUVA, a joint research lab focused on advancing machine learning techniques for mobile and computer vision.
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In 2007, Qualcomm started exploring spiking neuron approaches to machine learning for computer vision and motion control applications, and later expanded the scope of the research to look not just at biologically inspired approaches but also artificial neural networks, primarily deep learning.
Last month, San Diego-based Brain Corp., a Qualcomm Ventures-backed company, announced that it had raised a $114 million series C funding round led by the SoftBank Vision Fund. Qualcomm Ventures, the investment arm of Qualcomm Inc, also invested in the latest round of funding.
Brain Corp. develops artificial intelligence and self-driving technology used in commercial and consumer robots.