The market research firm says the tech giant bought more AI companies than anyone else between 2016 and 2020. The second biggest AI acquirer was Irish consultancy Accenture. But the rest of the top five were all based in the US. Google grabbed the third spot on the list, followed by Microsoft and Facebook. [Read: How to use AI to better serve your customers] GlobalData found the four American firms had collectively bought 60 AI companies — almost half of which (25) were snapped up by Apple.
Nicklas Nilsson, a senior analyst at GlobalData, said many of Apple’s deals were centered on Siri: As the iPhone-maker doesn’t make all its acquisitions public, the real number could be even higher. The AI shopping spree reflects Apple’s wider strategy on developing tech via acquisitions. Apple boss Tim Cook revealed in February that the company has snapped up roughly 100 companies over the last six years — the equivalent of roughly one acquisition every three to four weeks. Greetings Humanoids! Did you know we have a newsletter all about AI? You can subscribe to it right here.
