Apple Poised To Acquire The Computer Vision Company Prompt AI, Whose Seemour App Will Be Retired

Apple Nears Deal to Acquire AI Startup Prompt AI

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Apple is finalizing a deal to acquire computer vision startup Prompt AI, signaling a strategic push to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities amid growing competition. The acquisition would bring specialized talent and technology to Apple’s portfolio as it works to overcome delays in its Apple Intelligence rollout.

What Prompt AI Brings to Apple

Prompt AI has developed ambient AI technology that uses computer vision and natural language processing to interpret real-world environments. The company’s flagship Seemour app connects to home security cameras, enabling precise detection of specific people, pets, or objects while providing detailed scene descriptions and alerts for suspicious activity.

According to CNBC’s reporting, Apple sees particular value in Prompt AI’s real-time environmental sensing capabilities, which could enhance Apple’s home automation and security offerings.

Breaking from Apple’s Acquisition Pattern

This potential acquisition represents a departure from Apple’s typically conservative approach to deals. The company’s largest acquisition remains the $3 billion Beats Electronics purchase in 2014, with most deals focusing on smaller technology tuck-ins rather than strategic AI plays.

Industry analysts note Apple appears to be adopting strategies similar to competitors like Meta, which recently acquired Scale AI in a $14.3 billion deal to bolster its AI capabilities.

Addressing Apple Intelligence Shortcomings

The move comes as Apple faces ongoing challenges with its Apple Intelligence platform, announced in June 2024. Two key features have experienced significant rollout delays:

  • In-app actions that would allow deeper system integration
  • Personal context awareness enabling Siri to leverage user data for tailored services

These delays have reinforced concerns about Apple’s competitive position in AI, particularly as companies like Google and Microsoft accelerate their AI deployments.

Strategic Implications for Apple’s Hardware Roadmap

The acquisition could support Apple’s reported development of AI-enabled smart glasses, positioning the company to better compete with Meta’s expanding lineup of augmented reality products. Prompt AI’s computer vision technology would provide critical sensing capabilities for any future wearable devices.

As TechCrunch notes, the retirement of Prompt AI’s Seemour app following the acquisition suggests Apple plans to integrate the technology directly into its ecosystem rather than maintaining it as a standalone product.

The deal, while not massive by industry standards, represents Apple’s growing recognition that strategic acquisitions may be necessary to close the AI gap with competitors who have been more aggressive in the artificial intelligence space.

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