Samsung has been taking steps to fuel its AI ambitions for consumer devices for a while now. The South Korean electronics giant announced the Galaxy AI with the Galaxy S24 series earlier this year and said it would also bring Google’s AI model Gemini to its phones. The company also introduced its new foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, last week with features brought by the Galaxy AI and Google Gemini.
Samsung is now adding knowledge graphs to power its AI capabilities. The South Korean tech giant announced that it will acquire Oxford Semantic Technologies, a UK-based knowledge graph startup that is developing an AI reasoning engine that can be embedded in edge devices, for an undisclosed amount.
The startup, which originated at the University of Oxford, was founded in 2017 by professors Ian Horrocks, Boris Motik, and Bernardo Cuenca Grau. The company says its knowledge graph and semantic reasoning engine, RDFox, can transform an organization’s data into machine-readable information, which it then uses to provide better user experiences, such as improved search results and recommendations, using rules-based AI.
Knowledge graphs use a graphical structure to organize and represent data about real-world entities such as people, objects, events, scenarios, and concepts, as well as to indicate their relationships. For example, Google uses this technology to power its search results, particularly its knowledge panel.
Oxford Semantic Technologies says its software helps companies improve data processing and support advanced reasoning across both the cloud and edge devices. The company says its applications range from assisting with medical diagnoses to integrating maps for autonomous vehicle safety, detecting financial crimes and recommending product configurations.
The acquisition gives Samsung access to Oxford Semantic Technologies’ AI and personal knowledge graph engines, which it said in a statement allow it to pull together scattered information and context from different services and apps to provide a personalized user experience while keeping data secure on the device. Samsung also made sure to point out that the technology could be applied to all products, such as TVs and home appliances, not just mobile devices.
Samsung invested in Oxford Semantic through its venture arm
Samsung, through its venture arm, is an existing investor in Oxford Semantic and has been working on various projects with the startup since 2018. Oxford Science Enterprises is also among the firm’s investors.
Peter Crocker, CEO of Oxford Semantic Technologies, said: “We are delighted to be working with Samsung. By combining Samsung’s expertise in user experience and data with our advanced knowledge graph and reasoning technology, we will deliver even more advanced personalisation to Samsung customers. In addition, developing RDFox with Samsung and being part of a larger group will provide even better products, services and support to all our customers.”