Was Jeff Bezos-Backed WhyLabs Secretly Acquired By Apple After $10M Series A To Compete In AI Arms Race Against Google, OpenAI, And Microsoft?
According to GeekWire, the startup earned recognition as one of the top privately held companies in the Pacific Northwest, ranking No. 81 on the GeekWire 200 and being named a finalist for Startup of the Year at the 2023 GeekWire Awards.
A Strategic Move As Apple Ramps Up AI Spending
Apple has steadily expanded its presence in Seattle, making the city a quiet hub for its enterprise software and AI ambitions. GeekWire reports that over the past decade, the company has acquired several AI startups in the region, including Turi in 2016, Union Bay Networks in 2014, and Xnor.ai in 2020.
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WhyLabs fits into a similar mold. With Apple announcing investments in on-device AI features, including updates rumored for the next iteration of iOS and Siri, acquiring a startup that specializes in secure, explainable AI is a move that aligns with Apple's push for secure, on-device AI.
According to GeekWire, earlier this year, Apple leased more office space in downtown Seattle, signaling continued investment in the region's deep engineering talent.
As the race to build more private, efficient AI accelerates, WhyLabs' technology could play a central role in Apple's push to close the perceived innovation gap with OpenAI, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Google.
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