TLDRs;
- Apple is close to acquiring Prompt AI, a UC Berkeley–linked startup specializing in computer vision and home security software.
- The deal, viewed as an acquihire, aims to strengthen Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem and expand its smart home features.
- Prompt AI’s shutdown of its Seemour app and data deletion highlights Apple’s ongoing commitment to privacy and on-device processing.
- The move could lead to new AI-driven automations for developers, offering smarter, privacy-respecting home experiences.
Apple is reportedly finalizing a deal to acquire Prompt AI, a computer vision startup founded in 2023 by UC Berkeley researchers Tete Xiao and Trevor Darrell.
The acquisition, which includes both technology and key personnel, underscores Apple’s continued strategy of quietly buying smaller AI startups to enhance specific product capabilities, in this case, computer vision for smart home devices.
Prompt AI specializes in object and activity recognition, enabling home security cameras to detect people, pets, and unusual motion events in real time. The company had previously raised US$5 million in seed funding from investors such as AIX and Abstract Ventures. Despite its promising technology, insiders say the deal will not fully repay investors, and staff not transitioning to Apple will face salary reductions.
Other tech companies, including xAI and Neuralink, had reportedly shown interest in acquiring Prompt AI’s assets, but Apple’s offer, focused on integrating the team and tech into its ecosystem, appears to have prevailed.
Strengthening HomeKit’s Vision
The acquisition aligns with Apple’s growing ambitions in home automation, particularly through its HomeKit platform. Reports suggest Apple is developing its first proprietary home security camera, expected to rival Amazon’s Ring lineup. Equipped with facial recognition and infrared sensors, the camera aims to identify individuals and detect activity with enhanced privacy controls.
Prompt AI’s technology, notably used in its Seemour app, could accelerate these efforts. Seemour’s algorithms not only recognize objects and faces but can also generate textual summaries of recorded activity and respond to user queries, capabilities that could soon find their way into Apple’s smart displays and hubs.
Prompt AI has announced it will shut down the Seemour app and delete user data to maintain privacy compliance before the acquisition is completed.
New Opportunities for Developers
Industry observers expect Apple to unveil new computer vision APIs at upcoming developer events, potentially expanding what third-party developers can do with HomeKit Secure Video.
The current HomeKit system already supports end-to-end encryption and on-device analysis for recognizing pets, people, and vehicles.
With Prompt AI’s expertise, Apple could push this further, allowing developers to build automation features triggered by visual events, such as turning on outdoor lighting when a delivery arrives or adjusting thermostats when a room becomes occupied.
These enhancements would not only deepen Apple’s smart home ecosystem but also reduce reliance on cloud-based processing, keeping user data private while improving responsiveness.
Privacy Remains Central
As Apple integrates Prompt AI’s technology, privacy is expected to remain a core design principle. Products that align with Apple’s EnergyKit and other on-device data processing initiatives are likely to receive priority integration.
This ensures compliance with Apple’s long-standing focus on local computation rather than external servers, a defining factor in its pitch for privacy-conscious consumers.
Prompt AI’s deletion of all existing user data before joining Apple is consistent with that ethos and helps reinforce Apple’s reputation for ethical AI practices.
