Google acquires French image recognition startup Moodstocks

Expanding its pool of machine learning talent, tech giant, Google has acquired France-based startup MoodStocks that develops machine-learning based image recognition technology for smartphones whose APIs for developers have been described as “Shazam for images.”

Moodstocks, founded in 2008 by Denis Brule, and Cedric Deltheil is a startup that’s looking to bridge the gap between the physical and digital world by turning your smartphone camera into smart sensors. Moodstocks’ API and SDK will be discontinued “soon”, according to an announcement on the company’s homepage.

“Ever since we started Moodstocks, our dream has been to give eyes to machines by turning cameras into smart sensors able to make sense of their surroundings. Our focus will be to build great image recognition tools within Google, but rest assured that current paying Moodstocks customers will be able to use it until the end of their subscription,” the company noted.

The startup also stated that it will be shutting down its own image recognition services, to scale and develop better tools in synergy with Google. So, the developers and e-commerce stores that have been employing Moodstocks image recognition APIs to power their products will have to wait-out or switch parties to continue offering their services.

The terms of the acquisition deal haven’t been disclosed by either of the two parties, except for the fact that Moodstocks will now be joining Google’s R&D Center in Paris. The two have signed an agreement and the deal is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.

The changing dynamics of machine learning and image recognition has been attracting multiple tech companies towards the acquisition of budding AR and VR startups. Two weeks back Twitter acquired Magic Pony to advance its machine learning smarts for improving users’ experience of photos and videos on its platform.