US tech giant Apple has acquired Hyderabad-based Tuplejump, a machine learning startup that helps companies store, process and visualise big data with its software.
Post the deal, two of Tuplejump's co-founders -- Rohit Rai and Satyaprakash Buddhavarapu -- have joined Apple, industry sources said.
When contacted, Apple in an emailed statement said: "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."
Artificial intelligence has become a key area of focus and investment for tech giants like Apple, Google and Facebook that are competing head-on as they develop products like virtual assistants and bots.
The Cupertino-based company is betting big on the Indian market. In July, Apple CEO Tim Cook had said that India is one of its fastest growing markets.
Earlier this year, Apple had announced setting up of a new office in Hyderabad to accelerate maps development, apart from a design and development accelerator centre in Bengaluru to support Indian developers creating innovative applications for iOS.
Besides, sales of its iconic smartphone iPhone also grew 51 per cent year-on-year in the first three quarters of this fiscal year.
Apple chief Tim Cook, who visited India in May, had also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss various topics, including manufacturing and setting up retail stores in the country.
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