Core Viewpoint - Apple is actively engaging in the AI talent acquisition race, recently targeting the startup Prompt AI, which had previously been in discussions with Elon Musk's companies [2][11]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - Apple is in advanced negotiations to acquire engineers and technology from Prompt AI, a visual AI startup that has also interacted with Musk's xAI and Neuralink [2]. - Prompt AI's leadership informed employees that those not joining Apple would face salary reductions, encouraging them to apply for positions at Apple [2]. - The startup was founded in 2023 in San Francisco and secured $5 million in seed funding, with notable founders including Tete Xiao and Trevor Darrell [4]. Group 2: Technology and Product - Prompt AI's flagship product, Seemour, is an ambient AI system designed for smart security cameras, capable of recognizing family members, pets, and other objects, generating alerts based on their behavior [6][7]. - Seemour can process millions of pixels in under a second, enhancing its ability to identify individuals and animals accurately [7]. - The technology is expected to integrate into Apple's smart home strategy, particularly in developing a smart security camera that aligns with Apple's HomeKit ecosystem [7][8]. Group 3: Strategic Focus - Apple prefers acquiring smaller AI startups to avoid lengthy integration processes associated with larger companies, as seen in past acquisitions like Beats and Intel's modem team [13][14]. - The company aims to enhance its AI capabilities by selectively acquiring mature technologies that fit its product needs, similar to its acquisition of PrimeSense for Face ID technology [14]. - Apple is reportedly considering acquiring Perplexity, a mid-sized AI company, to bolster its AI initiatives, which could lead to significant expansions in its AI and smart home offerings [15][16][18].
为了一个摄像头,苹果买下一家公司