Samsung has acquired Oxford Semantic Technologies, a UK-based startup specializing in knowledge graph technology. OST was founded in 2017 by a team of professors from Oxford University who specialize in creating knowledge graphs and inference techniques. This type of AI focuses on logical decision-making and can understand complex data sets to provide clear, explainable conclusions. Samsung aims to incorporate OST’s RDFox® technology into its devices, from smartphones to home appliances.
Oxford Semantic Technologies developed RDFox to commercialize research in knowledge representation and reasoning, enabling advanced AI applications that require high accuracy and reasoning power over large datasets.
What is RDFox?
RDFox is a high-performance software tool designed to create and manage knowledge graphs and perform semantic reasoning. A knowledge graph is essentially a way of storing data in a format that connects related concepts and resembles how humans naturally think and reason. RDFox uses this method to derive new information based on the data held, using the same logic as humans.
How does RDFox work?
RDFox works using a technique called semantic reasoning, which means it can understand and process data in a way that mimics human reasoning – through a set of rules that determine how data points are related to each other.
The main reason RDFox is great is that it performs incremental inference, updating the knowledge graph in real-time as new data comes in, without restarting or reloading the entire graph, making it extremely fast and able to handle large amounts of data efficiently.
How can this technology be used?
OST’s technology can be used in a variety of industries, including finance, manufacturing, and e-commerce. In the finance industry, OST’s systems can work autonomously in conjunction with complex decision-making processes to monitor transactions and maintain compliance from a regulatory perspective. Explaining the technology behind the startup in a newsroom release, Peter Crocker, CEO of Oxford Semantic Technologies, shared his excitement about the partnership, which he believes will lead to increased consumer customization.
“We are excited to work with Samsung. By combining their user experience and data expertise with our advanced knowledge graph and reasoning technology, we will be able to provide even more sophisticated personalization to their customers,” he said.
“Furthermore, working with Samsung to develop RDFox® to support AI applications and becoming part of a larger group will enable us to provide even better products, services and support to all our customers. We appreciate our partnership with Oxford University Innovation and look forward to our continued collaboration with the University of Oxford.”
What is the purpose of this partnership?
It’s no secret that Samsung is aggressively working to establish itself as a top choice for smartphones, competing with big players like Apple and Huawei. This is evident in the company’s latest AI efforts. The company recently unveiled the Galaxy AI, as well as a collection of smart rings and watches, all of which employ technology that makes AI a useful tool for personal assistance, tracking health and other data, and more.
Samsung acquired the startup to ensure these new AI devices are the most accurate and relevant for each user. OST’s technology will enable Samsung to deliver smarter recommendations and services overall. “The acquisition of Oxford Semantic Technologies will further strengthen Samsung’s strong knowledge engineering capabilities as consumers around the world discover a growing need for more personalized AI experiences. This acquisition marks an important step in our efforts to provide customized AI experiences based on our signature technological innovations,” said Paul Kyung-hoon Chun, head of Samsung Research and CTO of Samsung Electronics.
