Samsung Snaps Up Viv, A Personal Assistant From Siri's Creators
Samsung is ready to play in the growing AI game. The Apple frenemy just scooped up Viv, a next-generation artificial intelligence assistant from the team originally behind Siri. The news was first reported by TechCrunch.
What is it?
One of Viv’s creators, Dag Kittalus, showed off the technology earlier this year at TechCrunch Disrupt.
At the time, Kittalus said he and and his team want “enable everyone to talk to everything.”
During the demonstration, he asked Viv a number of extremely specific questions including “Will it be warmer than 70-degrees near the Golden gate bridge after 5 p.m. the day after tomorrow?” Viv had no problem with the answer.
It also accomplished a number of other more complicated tasks like “Send Adam $20 for the drinks last night.” The assistant will automatically complete the request through Venmo. You don’t need to have the app installed on the device.
Purchase price was not disclosed. Viv will continue to operate as a separate company and provide services to Samsung.
Kittalus talked more about the acquisition to TechCrunch.
Ubiquity, Kittlaus said in an interview, is the reason Viv is trundling into Samsung’s bosom. Specifically, when I asked him why Samsung, he said this:
“They ship 500 million devices a year. You asked me onstage about what our real goal is, and I said ubiquity.”