Intel has acquired computer vision startup Itseez

Intel Corp. has acquired computer vision startup Itseez, Inc. for an undisclosed price.

Founded in 2005 and originally known as Computer Vision Center Argus, Itseez develops computer vision algorithms and implementations for embedded and specialized hardware with software that can be used in cars, security systems and other platforms.

Computer vision, if you’re not familiar with the term, allows computers to not only see, but interpret what they are seeing as well; facial recognition is the best known application of the technology, and could, in theory, be used to allow secure access to buildings or even an ATM based on a facial recognition scan.

For Intel, Itseez’s technology will be used in its automotive portfolio, which current includes services such as functional safety and over-the-air software management.

“Itseez will become a key ingredient for Intel’s Internet of Things Group (IOTG) roadmap, and will help Intel’s customers create innovative deep-learning-based CV applications like autonomous driving, digital security and surveillance, and industrial inspection,” Doug Davis, Intel’s Senior Vice President of the Internet of Things said in a blog post. “Itseez is also a key contributor to computer vision standards initiatives including OpenCV and OpenVX. Together, we’ll step up our contribution to these standards bodies – defining a technology bridge that helps the industry move more quickly to OpenVX-based products.”

IoT everywhere

While initially focuses on use in cars, Itseez’s technology has the potential to enable remote diagnostics and other applications.

As Fortune explains:

For example, your refrigerator could alert you when milk is running low, although some of the predicted uses seem like overkill to many consumers. But it might be useful to hear from auto makers or dealers that your car needs a checkup, so you can eliminate wasted trips to the mechanic.

The acquisition of Itseez’s isn’t Intel’s first acquisition in the space, with the famed chipmaker having previously acquired of Italian startup Yogitech S.p.A in April, a company which designs systems to ensure the functional safety of semiconductors used in the automotive industry.

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Duncan Riley

Duncan Riley is a senior writer at SiliconANGLE covering Startups, Bitcoin, and the Internet of Things.

Duncan is a co-founder of VC funded media company B5Media and founder of news site The Inquisitr, and was a senior writer at TechCrunch in its earlier days.

Tips? Press releases? Intersting startup? email: [email protected] or contact Duncan on Twitter @duncanriley