Niche AI workforce acquired by Ericsson for AI development in India

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being adopted by a number of telecommunications and networking companies lately. Telecommunication companies across the globe are turning towards AI-driven platforms to deliver a better customer experience and accelerate their respective product offering in local as well as global markets.

Ericsson, a Swedish multinational telecommunications and networking company headquartered in Stockholm, reportedly announced acquisition of the workforce of Niche AI, an AI based startup in India, for its artificial intelligence center based in Bengaluru.

A senior official of the company stated that, Ericsson is presently looking for more acquisitions to establish a team of 150 high tech engineers, to conduct operations in India, this year.

The company created Global Artificial Intelligence Accelerator (GAIA) in India in 2018 to develop an open-source solution for modernization of the telecom network, utilizing machine learning and AI.

Ericsson plans to make a team of 300 highly qualified engineers in GAIA by 2019 end, of which 50% are expected to be situated in India.

Head of Ericsson R&D Bengaluru, Sanjeev Tyagi stated that the company is seeking both organic hiring, by hiring individuals one by one off the market, as well as inorganic, which means more hiring through acquihires (hiring only talents) and acquisitions. One such company acquired by Ericsson is Niche AI.

Ericsson is acquiring talents from firms for GAIA and not the respective companies’ assets such as clients and patents.

Tyagi added that the company continues to be on its target, marching towards its objective. In fact, the company has already hired over 75 engineers between Chennai and Bangalore. Moreover, a few dozen more candidates are expected to join the company in coming months while it continues to recruit actively.

Tyagi further added that the company has been examining companies based on their core competence, their size, cultural fit, the capabilities possessed by the engineering team among many other parameters. Ericsson found Niche AI suitable across all the set parameters. The size of this procurement is small in itself— which is something the company found around the board.  Acquihire of Niche AI is in single digits on the basis of workforce size.

No financial terms related to the acquisition were disclosed by the company.

 

Source credit: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/ericsson-acquires-niche-ai-workforce-for-india-centre/article29423688.ece