Highlights:

  • Qualcomm offers a library of preconfigured AI models optimized for its silicon, eliminating the need for companies to train algorithms from scratch and accelerating development.
  • The MovianAI acquisition follows Qualcomm’s purchase of Edge Impulse Inc., another AI development specialist, by less than a month.

Qualcomm Technologies Inc. acquired MovianAI, a Vietnam-based AI development company.

MovianAI serves as the generative AI division of VinAI Application and Research JSC, a machine learning research lab. VinAI is a subsidiary of Vingroup, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates, which operates in various sectors, including hospitality, automobile manufacturing, and other industries.

“By bringing in high-caliber talent from VinAI, we are strengthening our ability to deliver cutting-edge AI solutions that will benefit a wide range of industries and consumers,” said Jilei Hou, Qualcomm’s Senior Vice President of engineering.

Hung Bui, a former DeepMind research scientist, led VinAI, the parent company of MovianAI. Since its launch in 2019, the lab has published numerous papers on generative AI and contributed several open-source projects to GitHub.

Around two years ago, VinAI researchers introduced a novel method for developing image generation models. Their approach leverages an existing image generation model to train a more compact algorithm capable of performing similar tasks with reduced hardware requirements. According to VinAI, this technology minimizes the need for extensive training data, streamlining the development process.

In addition to pioneering machine learning techniques, the lab has created several open-source AI models. One of its image generation algorithms integrates three distinct neural network architectures: Diffusion, Transformer, and Mamba. A relatively recent alternative to the Transformer architecture is Mamba that offers improved hardware efficiency in certain applications.

VinAI’s research extends beyond image generation, encompassing the development of a custom large language model, RecGPT-7B, specifically optimized for recommendation generation tasks.

“We are ready to contribute to Qualcomm’s mission of making breakthroughs in fundamental AI research and scale them across industries, including smartphones, PCs, software-defined vehicles, and more,” said VinAI CEO Hung Bui, who is associating with the chipmaker as part of the deal.

MovianAI’s expertise in model development could enable Qualcomm to improve its AI development tools, simplifying the deployment of machine learning applications on devices powered by the company’s processors.

Qualcomm offers a library of preconfigured AI models optimized for its silicon, eliminating the need for companies to train algorithms from scratch and accelerating development. The company also offers tools to enhance performance to the teams seeking to create custom models.

The purchase of MovianAI comes less than a month after Qualcomm’s acquisition of Edge Impulse Inc., another AI development expert. Edge Impulse’s software streamlines the creation of AI models designed to run efficiently on connected devices. Before the acquisition, the company had raised approximately USD 54 million in funding and amassed an installed base of over 170,000 developers.