Intel adds more AI brains with Nervana Systems acquisition

Intel introduced its intention to acquire Nervana structures on Tuesday for round $400 million, including some other synthetic intelligence startup to its portfolio.

Nervana structures has been in enterprise for two years, imparting a complete-stack, cloud-primarily based device learning platform, referred to as Nervana Cloud. It additionally constructed a framework for AI, referred to as Neon, which makes use of the Python language and offers a set of libraries for AI builders.

In 2017, the group plans to release the Nervana Engine, an utility precise integrated circuit (ASIC). both sides say the Nervana Engine continues to be an energetic venture. Intel is giving Nervana quite a few area to paintings: the startup will maintain all of its expertise and types and preserve to perform out of its San Diego headquarters, in keeping with co-founder and CEO, Naveen Rao.

“We’ve always been a challenge pushed organization,” said Rao. “despite the fact that we received’t be a startup any more, our project hasn’t changed: we're right here to make a dent within the world of computation. With this deal, we are able to now shatter the antique paradigm and pass into a new regime of computing.”

“We’ll look again in 10 years and spot this time as the inflection point of while compute architectures have become neural,” he added. Nervana structures raised $24 million at some point of its  years, receiving investment from Pierre Omidyar’s group and Steve Jurvetson.

Intel vice chairman and standard supervisor of information center organization, Diane Bryant, said: “Nervana’s Engine and silicon know-how will improve Intel’s AI portfolio and enhance the deep learning performance and overall fee of possession of our Intel Xeon and Xeon Phi processors.”

“We agree with that bringing together the Intel engineers who create the Intel Xeon and Xeon Phi processors with the proficient Nervana systems’ crew, we are able to be capable of improve the enterprise quicker than could have in any other case been possible,” she delivered.

it's miles a smart circulate for Intel, scooping up extra skills in what can be one of the maximum aggressive industries for enterprise. Nervana structures also brings a full-stack platform answer, which Intel can integrate with its processors to boost overall performance above Nvidia, AMD, and different competition in the AI space.

update: numerous guides are reporting an acquisition fee of among $350 million – $four hundred million, record has been up to date to reflect that.