Microsoft has acquired a veteran AI team, including the former chief speech scientist for Siri

Microsoft has acquired an artificial-intelligence startup, Semantic Machines, to bolster its efforts in "conversational AI" and potentially make its Cortana virtual assistant better at understanding natural language enquiries. Microsoft didn't disclose how much it paid for Semantic Machines but said it would open a new AI research center in Semantic Machines' hometown of Berkeley, California. Semantic Machines contains numerous AI veterans, and the acquisition gives Microsoft access to some formidable talent. Semantic's chief technology officer, Larry Gillick, is a former chief speech scientist for Apple's Siri. Microsoft also name checked the University of California at Berkeley professor Dan Klein and the Stanford University professor Percy Liang.