Samsung Electronics, the world's largest mobile phone maker, is acquiring British deep tech start-up Oxford Semantic Technologies to bolster in-device artificial intelligence capabilities in its products such as its Galaxy smartphone series.
The South Korean tech giant said on Thursday it had agreed to acquire AI software developer Oxford Semantic, but did not disclose the purchase price.
Oxford Semantic specializes in knowledge graph technology, which stores information as an interconnected web of related ideas and processes data such as how humans acquire, remember and recall knowledge.
This technology integrates and connects data to better understand how people use products and services, and enables faster information retrieval and recommendations. It is considered one of the key technologies for realizing more advanced and personalized AI solutions.
“The acquisition of Oxford Semantic Technologies will further strengthen Samsung's strong capabilities in knowledge engineering as consumers around the world realize an increasing need for more personalized AI experiences,” Chung Kyung-hoon, Samsung's chief technology officer and head of Samsung Research, said in a statement.
Samsung, which launched the world's first AI smartphone, the Galaxy S24, aims to apply Oxford Semantic's technology to other electronic devices such as televisions.
More sophisticated personalization
Founded in 2017 by three professors from Oxford University, the startup owns cutting-edge technologies in knowledge representation and semantic reasoning. The company currently works with enterprises in the finance, manufacturing and e-commerce sectors across Europe and North America using its AI-centric engine, RDFox.
Oxford Semantic has commercialized knowledge graph technology that optimizes data processing and enables advanced inference in the cloud and on devices, but the complex calculations used in the process of transforming dynamic and extensive real-world data into and leveraging knowledge graphs are difficult to implement, Samsung said.
Samsung said the acquisition will provide the company with an advanced core engine for its Personal Knowledge Graph, adding that the Personal Knowledge Graph technology, when combined with on-device AI technology, will enable a highly personalized user experience while keeping sensitive personal data safe on the device.
“By combining Samsung's user experience and data expertise with our advanced knowledge graph and reasoning technology, we will be able to offer even more sophisticated personalisation to Samsung customers,” said Peter Crocker, CEO of Oxford Semantic. “Furthermore, developing RDFox together with Samsung and becoming part of a larger group will enable us to offer even better products, services and support to all our customers.”
Samsung has been working with Oxford Semantic on various projects since 2018, and Samsung Venture Investments has also invested in the startup.
Write Kim Chaeyoung why29@hankyung.com
This article was edited by Jeong Jeongwoo.
