Microsoft is Acquiring London's Al-Driven Swift Key for $250M

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCag_xyMapv4cyoWrv6JnCekSrpbsNx0Ksm7Ev2Bwak11jkBKLo8WqzafXqmDQZxkmztSMH9WdHK51e151I-tQCZFcAEK4gbAIrj0gLAwwU2UmJyuWyBwyW_5VqLAdlEvSZrN7-cc9dnJJ/s1600/cm-founders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Microsoft is Acquiring London&#39;s Al-Driven Swift Key for $250M" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCag_xyMapv4cyoWrv6JnCekSrpbsNx0Ksm7Ev2Bwak11jkBKLo8WqzafXqmDQZxkmztSMH9WdHK51e151I-tQCZFcAEK4gbAIrj0gLAwwU2UmJyuWyBwyW_5VqLAdlEvSZrN7-cc9dnJJ/s640/cm-founders.jpg" title="Microsoft is Acquiring London&#39;s Al-Driven Swift Key for $250M" /></a></div> <div dir="ltr"> Microsoft is understood to be acquiring London-based SwiftKey, the startup which employed artificial intelligence to create a ground-breaking predictive smartphone keyboard, according to sources. The Financial Times is reporting that the deal is “around $250m”. TechCrunch understands the figure is just under that amount. UPDATE: Investor sources say the deal, which is all-cash, is definitely going through and will be announced imminently.</div> <div dir="ltr"> The companies are understood to have been in talks for a number of months. Staff were told earlier today about the deal. SwiftKey declined to comment.</div> <div dir="ltr"> SwiftKey raised a total of $21.59 million from Octopus Ventures and Index Ventures, while UK celebrity Stephen Fry was an early angel investor.</div> <div dir="ltr"> SwiftKey’s keyboard and SDK is now on more than 500 million Android and iOS smartphones. And while its technology is hugely time-saving for users, the AI-powered platform could have far more uses for Microsoft than just keyboards. The predictive engine behind that keyboard could be put to many more uses.</div> <div dir="ltr"> Furthermore, by acquiring SwiftKey’s staf, and founders Dr. Ben Medlock (CTO) and Jon Reynolds (CEO), they are getting a kick-ass team which is so at the forefront of AI that even Professor Stephen Hawking has praised their work after they worked on a project to enhance the communication system used by the world-renowned scientist.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> </div>

news technology news Microsoft is Acquiring London's Al-Driven Swift Key for $250M

Microsoft is understood to be acquiring London-based SwiftKey, the startup which employed artificial intelligence to create a ground-bre...

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