Apple has acquired Seattle-based edge AI experts Xnor.ai for a reported $200 million.

If you recognise Xnor.ai, it’s likely because the company’s technology once powered the person-detection feature on Wyze’s popular cameras. Xnor.ai abruptly cancelled their contract with Wyze back in November – and now we know why.

In layman’s terms, edge computing means the processing is done on-device. On-device computation has significant advantages when it comes to reducing latency, improving performance, and retaining privacy.

Apple makes a big deal out of its privacy credentials. When people are becoming increasingly concerned about the data collection practices of competitors like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, it’s a strategy that works.

Compared to all three of those cloud-focused competitors, many believe Apple has fallen behind when it comes to AI. With its Xnor.ai acquisition, Apple can boost its AI capabilities while saying that it’s protecting customers’ privacy by not sending it all up to the cloud like its rivals often do.

Xnor.ai started its journey as part of the nonprofit Allen Institute for AI. In 2017, the company spun off as its own entity headed by CEO Ali Farhadi.

While small change compared to what Apple acquired it for, Xnor.ai had already raised significant capital. In early 2017, it raised $2.7 million. In 2018, it raised $12 million. Both rounds were led by Madrona Venture Group.

Apple has been on something of an AI acquisition spree in recent years. In fact, a report by CBInsights last year found that Apple acquired more AI firms (20) than any other leading tech company in 2019. Google took second place with 14 acquisitions, followed by Microsoft with 10.