DHAKA: Samsung has stepped up its focus on artificial intelligence (AI) by taking over Viv, a digital assistant developed by the maker of Apple’s Siri.

The acquisition comes just days after Google launched its new Pixel phone which also puts a strong focus on an AI digital assistance function, reports the BBC.

Amazon and Microsoft are also making a push into getting computers to learn and respond like human beings.

Samsung has recently seen its image battered by the global Note 7 recall.

The company plans to use Viv in its phones, televisions and a wide range of other devices.

The deal showed Samsung’s “commitment to virtual personal assistants and is part of the company’s broader vision to deliver an AI-based open ecosystem across all of its devices and services”, the South Korean tech giant said in a statement.

“With the rise of AI, consumers now desire an interaction with technology that is conversational, personalized and contextual - an experience that fits seamlessly within their everyday lives,” the firm added.

BDST: 1213 HRS, OCT 06, 2016
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