Apple has reportedly acquired WaveOne, an AI startup that specializes in video compression and decompression algorithms. The technology developed by WaveOne utilizes AI-based scene and object detection to “understand” a video frame, prioritizing certain elements to save bandwidth. The startup has also managed to secure around $9 million in funding before Apple’s interest. The acquisition is significant for Apple’s presence in the field of artificial intelligence, and could allow the company to save on the bandwidth required to deliver streaming content at high resolutions and framerates, making streaming more efficient.
Apple Acquires Video Compression AI Startup WaveOne
Apple has reportedly acquired the AI startup WaveOne, which specializes in video compression algorithms. The acquisition comes at a time when big tech companies are intensifying their presence in the field of artificial intelligence. While there is no official confirmation from Apple, many signs suggest that the deal has been completed. For instance, the WaveOne website was shut down in January, and several former employees, including one of WaveOne’s co-founders, are now working within Apple’s various machine learning groups.
WaveOne’s founder, Bob Stankosh, announced the sale in a LinkedIn post about a month ago. In the post, he stated that WaveOne’s machine learning/deep learning video technology has the potential to change the world, and Apple saw this potential and took the opportunity to add it to their technology portfolio.
It’s worth noting that Apple does not typically make proclamations for every small acquisition it completes, as these are part of the company’s growth process.
What contribution will WaveOne bring to Apple? WaveOne was founded in 2016 by Lubomir Bourdev and Oren Rippel, who sought to base the video codec paradigm on artificial intelligence. With video compression and decompression algorithms, the former occurs on the server side while the end-user machines handle the decompression. While this is an effective approach, the new codecs require new hardware that is specifically built to speed up compression or decompression, which can slow down the introduction of algorithm improvements.
In conclusion, Apple’s acquisition of WaveOne is significant for the company’s presence in the field of artificial intelligence. WaveOne’s specialized video compression AI algorithms could help Apple introduce algorithm improvements more efficiently, and ultimately enhance the user experience.
WaveOne’s AI-based Video Compression Algorithm Catches Apple’s Attention
WaveOne has developed a video compression and decompression algorithm that leverages AI-based scene and object detection to “understand” a video frame. This technology can prioritize faces over other elements within a scene to save bandwidth, among other advantages. Additionally, WaveOne’s approach can decrease future video file sizes by up to 50% regardless of the hardware used.
The startup’s technology has caught the attention of tech giants, and even before Apple’s interest, WaveOne had secured approximately $9 million in funding. Apple’s interest in this technology could be attributed to the potential to save on the bandwidth needed to deliver streaming content at high resolutions and framerates, making streaming more efficient.
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