Cloudera acquires AI research firm Fast Forward Labs

Cloudera said today as part of its second-quarter earnings report that it is acquiring Fast Forward Labs, a startup that gives companies the latest information on how to apply machine learning and AI to their businesses, as well as consulting. The company's stock has weathered somewhat of a beating since it went public, though it was able to beat Wall Street's expectations today. But the more interesting news is the acquisition of Fast Forward Labs, a company that specializes in consulting with larger enterprises about emerging trends in machine learning that can help their businesses grow. Cloudera specializes in operating on top of open-source technology, looking to deliver an enterprise-grade product for larger organizations. "On the way, we built a profitable company with real impact on our clients' products and businesses. I'm proud of what we've accomplished," CEO and co-founder Hilary Mason said in a post announcing the acquisition.