Samsung snaps up AI upstart Viv Labs

A stage demo of Viv earlier this year on a MacBook showed how it could launch app-like things via voice. Samsung appears poised to shake up the market for voice assistants with its latest acquisition. The electronics giant said Wednesday it had agreed to acquire Viv Labs, the artificial intelligence startup behind Viv -- the voice assistant that aims to handle everyday tasks for you all on its own. The multiplatform software can be used to do things like order flowers, book a hotel room, or research weather conditions, all through natural language commands. Terms were not revealed, and Samsung declined to comment on the sale price for the San Jose, Calif.-based company, which says it has about 50 employees.