Amazon has quietly purchased Snackable.AI as the company works to catch up in the artificial intelligence market.
The New York Post learned that Amazon purchased Snackable.AI last year, intending to use its audio-focused AI to improve its podcasts. Mari Joller, Snackable’s founder and CEO, is now an AI and machine learning lead at Amazon.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Joller is “building AI-powered products at Amazon Music Podcasts.” She goes on to say: “Previously I was the founder and CEO of Snackable AI, an audio intelligence startup. Snackable was the second AI-focused business I’ve started (the first, Scarlet, was acquired in 2016), and one of many technology products I’ve built and scaled in collaboration with a lot of amazing people.”
Amazon has been under pressure to provide an answer to Microsoft and Google’s AI efforts. In his second annual shareholder letter, CEO Andy Jassy tried to reassure investors that the company was working on generative AI. Shortly after, Amazon introduced its Bedrock AI platform.
If the Snackable purchase is any indication, Amazon is clearly taking AI seriously, looking for ways to incorporate the tech in a variety of platforms and services.
