Google acquires Api.ai, a conversational user interface provider

Google has just acquired conversational user interface provider Api.ai. Api.ai software is used in chatbots, wearables, apps, smart cars, home automation kits and smart TVs. The user interfaces are both text and voice based. Chatbots using Api.ai technology are on Slack, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Skype, Slack, Telegram and Microsoft Cortana, among other platforms. Over 60,000 developers are using Api.ai to deliver conversational interfaces. Api.ai was launched in 2014, and its adoption has been enthusiastic since then. Api.ai provides text recognition, speech recognition and natural language processing in 14 languages. There are knowledge packages included, which allow looking up weather data, flight schedules, news events and encyclopedias. There are preset domains that allow agents to process requests. These include shopping, home automation, notes, maps, sports and taxi searchers, among others. Creating an artificial intelligent agent takes only minutes, and no coding language is necessary to do so. The acquisition by Google will allow Api.ai to accelerate improvements in the product, and introduce new features. Tapping into Google’s infrastructure will allow Api.ai to provide a better service to its customer base. Google is acquiring Api.ai to make it easier for developers to build conversational experiences. More platform integrations are lined up, and Google says there are going to be further announcements. The acquisition was announced in blogposts byboth  Google and Api.ai.