Intel acquires SigOpt, a specialist in modeling optimization, to boost its AI business – TechCrunch

Intel has been doubling down on building chips and related architecture for the next generation of computing, and today it announced an acquisition that will bolster its expertise and work specifically in one area of future technology: artificial intelligence. The semiconductor giant today announced that it has acquired SigOpt, a startup out of San Francisco that has built an optimization platform that can be used to run modeling and simulations (two key applications of AI tech) in a better way. Anthony described SigOpt as a startup built to "optimize everything" when we covered its Series A, but Intel specifically will be integrating the tech into its AI business, specifically into its AI Analytics Toolkit, a spokesperson tells me. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but SigOpt already counted a number of large enterprises -- "SigOpt's customer base includes Fortune 500 companies across industries, as well as leading research institutions, universities and consortiums using its products" -- among its customers. The product was still in a closed beta, however.