Microsoft acquires natural speech improvement startup Cortana

Microsoft has acquired Semantic Machines, a company that specializes in how artificial intelligence conducts conversations. Microsoft wants to improve its own digital assistant Cortana with the acquisition.

The intention is that, thanks to the technology of Semantic Machines, Cortana can conduct conversations better and users no longer have to mention commands to get things done from the digital assistant, Microsoft reports. It is unknown how much the Redmond company will pay for the California start-up.

Thanks to the acquisition, the employees of Semantic Machines will come to work at Microsoft. In the past they worked at, among others, Google and Apple; one of the founders of the start-up was head of speech recognition for Siri, the digital assistant on iPhones, iPads and Mac machines.

Microsoft does not say if or when it expects to make improvements to Cortana based on Semantic Machines technology. Companies with digital assistants are busy making improvements to their systems. Google recently presented Duplex, which can make phone calls on behalf of users.