Tech Giants Hunt for AI Startups--and the Brains Behind Them

Technology giants are opening their checkbooks to keep pace in the hot field of artificial intelligence, where some of the best ideas and most sought-after talent reside in small startups and academia. Intel Corp.'s purchase of Israeli startup Habana Labs for $2 billion this month is the biggest AI deal in a year when those transactions have already hit a record. Other tech giants, including Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp., have made acquisitions in recent years to strengthen their ability to apply complex algorithms...