Apple has acquired a French AI company specializing in on-device AI and computer vision technology.

Apple reportedly acquired the French AI company Data lab in December.

Reportedly, Apple has acquired a French artificial intelligence (AI) startup known for its on-device computer vision technology. Based in Paris, Datakalab was reportedly bought by Apple towards the end of last year. This move is seen as part of Apple’s efforts to integrate AI capabilities into its iPhone and other products. Interestingly, this acquisition is not Apple’s only recent foray into AI, as it was reported last month that the company also acquired a Canadian AI startup named DarwinAI.

According to French business magazine Challenges, the acquisition of Datakalab was finalized on December 17, 2023. While the financial details of the deal have not been disclosed, Apple now reportedly holds a 100 percent stake in the company, as per a notification to the European Commission. Datakalab was founded in 2017 by brothers Xavier and Lucas Fischer.

Datakalab’s LinkedIn page describes its work as “a new way to compress computer vision neural networks.” In its About section, the company explains that it focuses on “compression and adaptation to deploy embedded computer vision that is fast, cost-effective, and precise.” The AI firm has published nine research papers and has three patents pending.

The startup’s profile suggests why Apple might find it appealing. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has expressed interest in developing on-device AI capabilities, a direction that aligns with Datakalab’s focus on creating on-device tools and systems, particularly in the field of computer vision. This emphasis on computer vision could potentially give Apple a competitive edge over its competitors. Notably, while OpenAI recently introduced its vision model, and with the exception of Google Lens, most AI features on smartphones lack dedicated vision-focused functionalities.

Earlier this year, Apple reportedly acquired another AI firm, DarwinAI, based in Canada. DarwinAI, like Datakalab, focused on on-device AI technologies. These acquisitions indicate that Apple is making significant investments to meet its speculated deadline of June 10, which is when the company is anticipated to introduce iOS 18, potentially featuring the new AI functionalities it has been developing.