Cisco acquires conversational AI startup MindMeld for $125 million
Cisco, the networking giant, has acquired MindMeld, a startup specializing in conversational AI, for $125 million. The deal underscores the growing importance of AI in the tech sector and Cisco’s commitment to expanding its software offerings.
MindMeld, originally called Expect Labs, was launched at TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2012 with the aim of creating an iPad app that could understand conversations and provide relevant information. The company has since evolved, offering a suite of APIs for parsing, reasoning, and generating language.
The acquisition of MindMeld marks a significant step for Cisco, which has been actively pursuing software acquisitions in recent years. Earlier this year, the company acquired AppDynamics for $3.7 billion.
“With MindMeld, we will enhance our Collaboration suite, adding new conversational interfaces to our collaboration products starting with Cisco Spark,” said Rob Salvagno, Cisco’s head of corporate development, in a blog post.
This acquisition suggests that AI is a crucial component of Cisco’s future plans. By incorporating MindMeld’s technology, Cisco aims to enhance its collaboration products and offer users more intuitive and conversational experiences.
