Apple Acquires Startup WaveOne for AI Video Compression Algorithms

Apple has reportedly acquired WaveOne, a California-based startup that was developing artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for video compression, according to a recent report by TechCrunch. While the tech giant has yet to confirm the acquisition, former WaveOne executive Bob Stankosh revealed that a “sale of the company to Apple” was finalized earlier this year.

WaveOne was focused on developing “content-aware” video compression and decompression algorithms that could reduce the size of video files. By leveraging AI-powered scene and object detection, the startup’s technology could “understand” a video frame, prioritizing faces over other elements within a scene to save bandwidth, for example.

The report also notes that WaveOne’s website was taken offline around January and that several of the company’s employees now work at Apple on various machine learning teams. It remains unclear how much Apple paid for WaveOne, or when its technologies will be integrated into Apple’s software platforms.

Apple has long been interested in leveraging AI and machine learning to enhance its products and services. In recent years, the company has made several acquisitions in the AI space, including Xnor.ai and Turi. These acquisitions have allowed Apple to develop AI-powered features such as the “Night mode” on the iPhone’s camera and the Siri virtual assistant.

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The acquisition of WaveOne could potentially further improve the video compression capabilities of Apple’s devices and services, such as Apple TV+ and FaceTime. The ability to reduce the size of video files without sacrificing quality would make it easier and faster to transmit video content over the internet, particularly in areas with limited bandwidth.

As Apple continues to invest in AI and machine learning, it’s likely that we will see more acquisitions and innovations in this space. While the company has yet to confirm the acquisition of WaveOne, it’s clear that the tech giant is committed to leveraging AI and machine learning to enhance its products and services, and to stay at the forefront of technological innovation.