Qualcomm strengthens its position in AI with VinAI acquisition
By ForGeeks Qualcomm has announced the acquisition of the generative AI division of VinAI, a Vietnamese research company that develops computer vision algorithms and language models. The amount of the deal was not disclosed, but it is Qualcomm’s second acquisition this year after buying Edge Impulse.
VinAI was founded in 2019 by former DeepMind researcher Hung Bui and mainly focuses on automotive AI technologies such as salon monitoring systems, safety and «smart parking». The company also conducts fundamental research in artificial intelligence and employs about 200 people in offices in Hanoi, the US and Australia.
According to Qualcomm senior vice president Jilei Hou, the acquisition will strengthen the company’s engineering team and enable the development of advanced AI solutions for various industries. Bui himself will also join Qualcomm once the deal is finalized.
VinAI will develop technologies for smartphones, PCs and automobiles, utilizing its expertise in generative AI and machine learning.
Qualcomm CEO Christiano Amon emphasized that «edge AI» (autonomous AI systems running without servers) is becoming a key area for the company. In March, he called this segment a «tailwind» for Qualcomm’s growth, as evidenced by its recent investments in AI and IoT companies.
