AI has already created its own leading conversational assistant app called ‘Assistant, ‘ which is now being used by more than 20 million people.
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The company’s services also feature artificial intelligence technology capable of learning.
Google Engineering vice president Scott Huffman said: “API.AI has a proven track record for helping developers design, build and continuously improve their conversational interfaces”. The purchase continues investments Google has made over the years in “core machine learning technologies that enable natural-language interfaces”, he said. Google’s Api.ai is already a mature bot platform that works with 15 languages/dialects, including English, Chinese, French, German and Spanish.
Sunnyvale-based Api.ai that offers tools for speech recognition and natural language understanding has reportedly helped over 60,000 developers build conversational experiences (read chatbots) integrated with messaging, virtual assistant and IoT platforms such as Slack, Facebook Messenger, Skype Kik, Amazon Alexa and Microsoft Cortana amongst others.
Furthermore, the API.AI acquisition could reinforce Google’s DeepMind AI project. The merger between both, will potentially position Google to enable developers in building natural language interfaces.
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Meanwhile, API.AI CEO Ilya Gelfenbeyn said that joining Google will bring the firm’s technology to a far larger audience and ensure that the potential of chatbot technology can prove its worth in numerous areas. It underscores an assurance for these stakeholders that they will be enjoying the same services, which will further be complemented by Google’s knowledge, infrastructure and support. There is also no information as to how much Google paid for the acquisition. API.AI has reportedly raised a total of Dollars 5.6 million in venture funding, in four rounds and from six investors.
