Amazon Acquires AI Startup Perceive to Enhance Investments in Artificial Intelligence
Recent reports indicate that Amazon is intensifying its investments in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. Following previous investments of $1.25 billion and $2.75 billion in AI startup Anthropic in September and March, respectively, Amazon has now finalized a deal to acquire Perceive, a chip manufacturing and AI model compression company owned by Xperi.
According to documents submitted by Xperi to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, this transaction is structured as an asset purchase agreement, with Amazon acquiring Perceive for $80 million in cash. While it is an asset purchase, the deal is subject to specific regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of this year.
The filings also reveal that Perceive is a company in which Xperi holds a 76.2% stake. Xperi has been seeking suitable buyers to sell Perceive since the beginning of the year. As a company focusing on advanced AI model technology for edge devices, Perceive currently employs 44 people, most of whom are anticipated to join Amazon following the acquisition.
This acquisition underscores Amazon's commitment to bolstering its investment in artificial intelligence and enhancing its technological capabilities in the field.