Apple acquires an AI startup as part of its major Gen AI initiative planned for 2024.

Apple has acquired the artificial intelligence (AI) startup Darwin AI and incorporated numerous employees from the Canadian company into its AI division, as reported by Bloomberg News on Thursday. The tech giant finalized the acquisition earlier this year, according to sources familiar with the matter cited in the report, although the exact financial terms were not disclosed. Both Apple and Darwin AI declined immediate comment in response to requests from Reuters. Compared to competitors such as Microsoft and Alphabet's Google, who have integrated generative AI – capable of producing human-like responses to written prompts – into their products, Apple has been slower in adopting such technologies. As part of the deal, Alexander Wong, an AI researcher who played a role in Darwin AI's development, has joined Apple's AI group as a director. Darwin AI specializes in AI technology for visually inspecting manufacturing components and serves clients across various industries, Bloomberg noted.