Apple, Google, Microsoft and Facebook acquired 60 AI companies from 2016

According to research company GlobalData, Apple acquired more AI companies in the period 2016 to 2020 than Google, Microsoft and Facebook. The American tech giants dominate the AI ​​takeover market, taking over more than 60 companies during the same period.

Apple the top acquirer of AI companies while other US tech giants also among the forerunners, says GlobalData - GlobalData

The company from Cupertino increased between 2016 and 2020 according to Global Data 25 companies specialized in artificial intelligence including startups Induktiv, Voysis and Pull String, which should help as Global Data in the development of Apple’s voice assistant Siri. Between 2016 and 2020, Google acquired fourteen AI companies, Microsoft twelve and Facebook nine.

According to GlobalData, Siri is the main reason for the majority of Apple’s acquisitions. “Apple’s shopping spree serves to keep up with the developments of Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Because although Siri was first on the market, the voice assistant appears to perform less well, ”said Nicklas Nilsson, Senior Analyst at GlobalData.

The survey also shows that Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft together have made the most acquisitions in the field of artificial intelligence worldwide. “These companies are responsible for 60 acquisitions and posted more than 14,000 job openings in 2020 related to an artificial intelligence role,” said Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Business Fundamentals Analyst at GlobalData. “Artificial intelligence is still the main focus area for these tech giants. That, coupled with the increasing competition in AI, has led these companies to buy”.

The Irish Accenture stands out as the only European company in the GlobalData results. According to the research firm, this is because the United States is at the forefront in the development of artificial intelligence and the American tech giants dominate the market.