Google acquires natural language processing startup Api.ai

Google has acquired API.ai, a startup with tools for speech recognition and natural language processing. In addition to its developers tools, Api.ai offers a conversational assistant app with more than 20 million users. Api.ai software is used in chatbots, wearables, apps, smart cars, home automation kits and smart TVs.

Api.ai was launched in 2014, and its adoption has been enthusiastic since then. Api.ai provides text recognition, speech recognition and natural language processing in 15 languages. There are knowledge packages included, which allow looking up weather data, flight schedules, news events and encyclopedias.

“API.AI has a proven track record for helping developers design, build and continuously improve their conversational interfaces,” Google vice president of engineering Scott Huffman wrote in a blog post. “Over 60,000 developers are using Api.ai to build conversational experiences, for environments such as Slack, Facebook Messenger and Kik, to name just a few.

The price and terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed yet, but API.AI has raised around $8.6 million till date. The acquisition by Google will allow Api.ai to accelerate improvements in the product, and introduce new features. Tapping into Google’s infrastructure will allow Api.ai to provide a better service to its customer base.

“With Google’s knowledge, infrastructure and support, we can make sure you get access to the best available technologies and developments in AI and machine learning,” Api.ai chief executive Ilya Gelfenbeyn wrote in a blog post.