Intel really really needs a market they can dominate that consumes lots and lots of chips. IoT is one bet, Wearables (apparently was) one bet.
Yes. And Computer Vision applications will likely be that market. There were big algorithmic break-throughs in the last decade and things are now mature and robust enough to be finally useful. Plus some immediate obvious customers are starting to show up: autonomous cars, AR/VR, drones.
Intel has acquired companies in the space for quite a while now (announced and un-announced deals) and will likely continue to do so. Trying to be an important player in this space is the right strategy IMO.
The potential of being a competitor in an as of yet unproven market wouldn't be a good reason to acquire them. If that market becomes very very big AND Nvidia wins it, Intel could buy them in cash if they wanted, they certainly have it on hand.
Why they haven't acquired them in the past, Intel clearly doesn't think they are worth it and preferred to compete against them directly on graphics.
Why would they? In the bigger scheme of things computer vision is still pretty much a clean slate. Nobody's making any serious money (yet). And Nvidia is still first and foremost a graphics company. Buying Nvidia for CV tech would be like buying Airbnb for its "trips" business.
Apart from that the FTC / US Justice would never allow that merger in the first place.
Yes. And Computer Vision applications will likely be that market. There were big algorithmic break-throughs in the last decade and things are now mature and robust enough to be finally useful. Plus some immediate obvious customers are starting to show up: autonomous cars, AR/VR, drones.
Intel has acquired companies in the space for quite a while now (announced and un-announced deals) and will likely continue to do so. Trying to be an important player in this space is the right strategy IMO.