​Intel buys cognitive computing company Saffron

The Saffron Platform, the company reckons, takes structured and unstructured data, parses them and applies natural language processing; stores them in what it calls the “Saffron memory base”; applies its own “contextual reasoning” (complete with REST API) to the data; and presents it to the cognitive platform at the top of everything, called SaffronStreamline.

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) announced on Monday that it is acquiring Saffron AI, a cognitive computing business for an undisclosed amount.

It sounds like data analytics, but Saffron claims its “natural intelligence platform” can uncover connections without needing to be programmed with models and rules. Firms like Blue Yonder are experimenting with the value of using past data from disparate sources to predict future events for companies like Eat, which we profiled earlier this year as using the technology to predict sales patterns.

It is also worth mentioning that cognitive computing is a term which is very dear to IBM, and the company has splashed millions of dollars into it to build product portfolios and recently established a consulting organization that would utilize its cognitive expertise with the Watson system.

Cognitive computing often employs a related technique called machine learning, which Google had a lot to say about on its quarterly earnings call last week. Big data can happen on small devices, as long as they’re smart enough and connected.

Intel sees Saffron powering not only its servers crunching enterprise data but also to new consumer devices that need to see, sense and interpret complex information in real time.

In a blog post, the chip giant said Saffron will continue as a standalone business, but roll up into the company’s new devices group.