For an undisclosed amount Apple appears to have purchased Prompt AI.
A report from business cable channel CNBC says that Apple is closing in on the purchase of computer vision start up Prompt AI. The company is focused on computer vision Artificial Intelligence, and it has a flagship application called Seemour (See more, get it?) which uses AI to improve a home security camera. Seemour can detect specific people, pets, and objects. It will send alerts and text-based messages that describe unusual activity taking place in front of the camera.
The report said that the company’s leaders, in an all-hands meeting held on Thursday, told employees that a deal with Apple was pending. Audio of the meeting, heard by CNBC, said that those who don’t join Apple will receive reduced pay and should apply for open positions at the company.
Interestingly, Apple beat out other AI companies for Prompt AI including Elon Musk’s xAI and Neuralink. During the meeting, executives said that those who invested money in Prompt AI will receive some payout but won’t get back the total amount of their original investment. Employees were also told that when looking for new jobs or discussing their situation with friends and family, they should not mention Apple.
Prompt AI co-founder and CEO Tete Xiao explained to employees at the meeting that the company’s technology is working fine as is the Seemour app. The problem, Xiao sad, is that the company’s business model is not working.
