Why Apple has acquired this 1-person AI start-up
What's the story
Apple has acquired the assets of Invrs.io, a one-person artificial intelligence (AI) start-up specializing in photonics research. The deal was revealed in a European Union regulatory filing. The acquisition also includes Martin Schubert, the sole employee and equityholder of invrs.io LLC. Schubert is a research scientist with over 10 years of experience in advanced display, chip and optical technologies at Google and Micron.
Start-up's mission
Invrs.io's focus on photonics and AI
Invrs.io is known for its open-source frameworks for photonics research, the science of manipulating light. This field is crucial to technologies such as camera systems, advanced displays, sensors and LiDAR scanners, all integral parts of Apple's hardware ecosystem. The start-up also aims to advance AI-guided design with a focus on optics. It has developed tools including standardized simulation challenges, optimization software, and a public leaderboard for benchmarking design results.
Integration possibilities
Potential impact on Apple's hardware development
While it's not clear how Apple will use these tools internally, the potential applications are promising. AI-driven simulation and optimization of light behavior could simplify the development of components for future iPhones and iPads. It could also improve sensors in wearables and enhance spatial computing devices like Apple Vision Pro. This acquisition hints at Apple's vision for its next hardware edge, extending beyond chips to include innovative engineering with light itself.