Microsoft and Google talk a lot about AI but haven't bought nearly as many startups as Apple

cross-posted from [email protected]

  • Apple has been the leading buyer of AI startups since 2017, acquiring 21 companies, nearly double the number purchased by Microsoft and Meta.
  • While other Big Tech companies like Google and Microsoft are vocal about their AI investments, Apple remains relatively quiet, choosing to announce things as they come to market.
  • The startups Apple has acquired focus on areas like self-driving technology, voice design, music generation, and image recognition.
  • This acquisition strategy contrasts with companies like Microsoft and Google, who are more cautious with acquisitions due to antitrust scrutiny and instead opt for partnerships with startups.
  • Apple’s AI investments have contributed to new iPhone features such as personal voice and real-time voicemail transcription.
    • Earthwormjim91@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      It’s been this way forever. Long before Google even. My uncle made millions during the dot com bubble by starting up a website, getting some traffic, then selling it off a bigger company. He did that 2 or 3 times and then retired in his 30s lol.

      Hell that’s what the dot com bubble was in the first place. A million startups all trying to get bought by a bigger player.

        • Earthwormjim91@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          And we’re currently in one for “AI”. That’s kind of my point. All of these AI companies are in it to sell off before the bubble pops. They have one little seed of good idea but no fully fleshed out path because they’re hoping for their idea to be bought out.

          It’s how it is, how it’s been, and how it will always be in the early stages of any new technology. You will always have small startups/inventors trying to get one idea bought up to get their big payday.