According to a new report, Apple Inc. acquired a startup specializing in advanced artificial intelligence and computer vision technology that may be able to improve its own AI across a number of apps and services.

Apple acquired Barcelona-based Vilynx Inc. earlier this year, according to people familiar with the deal. Vilynx developed technology that uses AI to analyze a video’s visual, audio and text content to understand what the video shows. It used that technology to create tags for the video, making it searchable.

The deal was completed for about US$50 million, said the people who asked not to be named because they weren’t authorized to speak about the transaction. For more on this, read the full Bloomberg report.

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On his LinkedIn page, Co-Founder of Vilynx Inc., Juan Carlos Riverio, pitched his company in a way far different from the Bloomberg characterization, this way:

"Vilynx solves the revenue problem for publishers, video creators and online media who don’t generate any revenue in mobile today. Today 95% of Publisher revenue comes from the PC platform but +50% of their traffic is mobile, that a BIG problem!! Vilynx solves this by:

-1- Increasing video views by 3X and engagement rates by 6X in on mobile and through social channels, thanks to Vilynx 5 sec video previews that are automatically generated using AI and machine learning algorithms.

2- Amplification of views by using machine learning to match videos with hot trending topics in social media.

3- Using machine learning to combine top level contents and video previews with ads and sponsored content,

4- Creating video content that integrates native ads in real time based on what their audience is consuming and broadcast through social channels and mobile.

5 - First solution in the market that helps video creators, MCN and publishers to maximize their video views, engagement and revenue in all channels including social media and mobile. All this with a simple one line of code integration and a SaaS pricing model.

Riveiro's profile doesn't show that he made the leap to Apple in the acquisition.

Apple Gains 3 Vilynx Patents

Apple's acquisition of Vilynx Inc also translates into acquiring their 3 known patents on record as follows:

1. Granted Patent 10410679 (Sept. 2019) titled "Producing Video bits for space time Video Summary"

2. Patent Application 20170055014 (Published Feb. 2017) titled "Processing Video usage Information for the Delivery of Advertising.

3. Granted Patent 8869198 (Oct. 2014) titled "Producing video bits for space time video summary."