Apple acquires Canadian AI startup DarwinAI, enhancing its device-based AI capabilities.

Apple has acquired Canadian AI startup DarwinAI, adding technology to support its generative AI endeavors in 2024. DarwinAI, which has developed AI technology for visually inspecting components during manufacturing, has made its core technology smaller and faster, aiding Apple's focus on running AI on devices rather than entirely in the cloud. The acquisition includes Alexander Wong, an AI researcher from the University of Waterloo, who has joined Apple as a director in its AI group.