Microsoft has purchased virtual assistant startup Genee for an undisclosed sum, USA TODAY reports. “We consider Microsoft to be the leader in personal and enterprise productivity, AI, and virtual assistant technologies, so we look forward to bringing our passion and expertise to a team that is committed to delivering cutting-edge language and intelligence services," wrote Genee co-founders Ben Cheung and Charles Lee in a blog post. However, critics wonder if the acquisition is just another example of a large company collecting AI-gleaned data for mysterious uses. Microsoft has already faced these questions, with the Electronic Frontier Foundation censuring the company last week for its Windows 10 privacy practices.
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