Intel Eyes Deep Learning with Vertex.AI Acquisition for its Movidius Unit

Intel has big plans to leverage artificial intelligence technology into all aspects of its business. The computer processing giant has acquired Vertex.AI, a Seattle-based start-up founded in 2015 focused to develop deep learning for every platform for its Movidius unit. The seven-member team behind Vertex.AI including the founders Choong Ng, Jeremy Bruestle and Brian Retford are all set to join Intel Movidius team into its Artificial Intelligence Products Group.

Intel’s Acquisition Spree

Intel is going strong over acquisitions, with a $1 billion spending spree on AI tech companies, including DataRobot, Lumiata, AEye and others; Intel is building its AI capabilities. Additionally, Intel has also acquired Israel-based autotech player Mobileye for $15.3 billion and Movidius which is into specialised low-power processor chips development for computer vision. Intel acquired Movidius in September 2016 for an undisclosed sum, rumoured to around $300 million.

Vertex.AI the newest acquired tech platform will join the Movidius group, and assist to strong Intel’s AI capabilities to build powerful processors and deploying them to build AI into apps.

Intel’s Newest buy Vertex.AI

Vertex.AI which was developing deep-learning engine called PlaidML prior to its acquisition will continue its endeavours under the Intel brand. Under the Intel brand, Vertex.AI will continue to develop PlaidML to support a variety of hardware under an Apache 2.0 license with an Intel nGraph backend.

Intel, which topped the charts as the leader in computing industry based on its processors, has lost some impetus to the newbies focusing on mobile processors and other next-generation devices.

With its latest acquisitions, Intel has set its eyes on the next wave of computing, through its committed focus on R&D and massive investments in AI technologies. Intel’s newest shopping buy, Vertex.AI is an interesting company that blends with Intel’s objective to develop deep learning for every platform integrating AI to all aspects of its business.

Intel’s Edge Computing Roadmap

Intel’s Vertex.AI acquisition suits Intel’s broader vision of AI and deep learning to be the primary components of the next wave of computing revolution that will be on edge devices. Edge devices range from the internet of things (IoT) governing home tech and business tech, drone devices and a lot more. As Intel moves beyond the PC era, developing its chips and processors to harness AI and deep-learning capabilities is Intel’s new focus.

Intel Movidius technologies enable machine learning and AI driven on edge computing. Products from the merged Intel Movidius include a $79 AI stick that is empowered to turn ordinary hardware into AI machines and the breakthrough Myriad X chip that makes machines think and see like humans.

Intel Movidius Myriad X processor can develop a dedicated neural compute engine to enable deep learning at the edge, especially on machines like robots and drones.

Intel’s Data Business

Intel has cashed on the power of data with the setting up of a separate business unit, Artificial Intelligence Product Group (AIPG) it established in March 2017. AIPG aligns Intel’s AI efforts into a single organisation, with a legacy of over a year; Intel does not reveal how much it earns from the AIPG. However in the second business quarter of 2018, Intel noted that its various data-centric business units under AIPG grew by 26%. Intel drives maximum of its revenues from its PC-centric business at $8.8 billion versus $7.2 billion, it earns from its data-centric business.

However, with the new acquisitions and focus on AI-driven technology, the revenue potential from the data-centric business is bright for Intel.

Intel is all set to move to the next level of autonomous computing at the edge with the acquisition of Vertex.AI, are you ready to witness the change?