Japanese Unicorn Preferred Networks Migrates Its DL Platform to PyTorch

Preferred Networks is migrating its deep learning research platform from its own open source framework Chainer to PyTorch. The Japanese artificial intelligence startup unveiled the plan last week, assigning its new Chainer V7 to a "maintenance phase" in advance of the move. Preferred Networks will provide documentation and a library for Chainer users to facilitate the transition to PyTorch. According to a Nikkei survey, Preferred Networks ranks No.1 on estimated corporate value among 181 Japanese startups, with an estimated valuation of JP￥351.5 billion (US$3.24 Japanese auto maker Toyota has been working closely with Preferred Networks since its founding in 2014 and has pumped more than JP ¥11 billion (US$101 million) into the company's deep learning, robotics and self-driving R&D.