Latest news with #Turi
Geek Wire
23-05-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
Did Apple just buy another Seattle startup? Clues point to secretive acquisition
GeekWire's startup coverage documents the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial scene. Sign up for our weekly startup newsletter , and check out the GeekWire funding tracker and venture capital directory . Apple's office near downtown Seattle. (GeekWire File Photo / Todd Bishop) Apple appears to have made another stealthy startup acquisition in Seattle. We're hearing that the tech giant is acquiring WhyLabs, a Seattle startup founded in 2019 that helps companies observe their AI apps to prevent security risks and optimize performance. The deal hasn't been announced publicly. Investors aren't commenting. Apple and WhyLabs execs haven't responded to our messages. There are a few clues online. AI Fund, a Palo Alto venture capital firm that co-led WhyLabs' Series A round in 2021, notes on its portfolio page that the company 'was acquired in 2025.' Perry Wu, a former general partner at AI Fund, lists WhyLabs on his LinkedIn page as 'ACQ BY APPLE.' It would mark the latest Seattle acquisition for Apple, which has swooped up a group of Emerald City enterprise software startups. The company previously paid $200 million in 2020 to acquire Xnor, a Seattle startup that specialized in edge-based AI tools. Apple also acquired Seattle-based machine learning startup Turi in 2016 and Union Bay Networks in 2014. Apple has invested heavily in AI, including efforts to build on-device AI capabilities. But analysts say the company has fallen behind competitors. 'What's notable about artificial intelligence is that Apple has devoted considerable resources to the technology and has little to show for it,' Bloomberg reported earlier this week. The Cupertino company earlier this year inked a big lease for more office space near downtown Seattle. It's one of more than 100 tech companies with satellite engineering hubs in the Seattle region, tapping into the area's robust tech talent pool. WhyLabs CEO Alessya Visnjic. (WhyLabs Photo) WhyLabs spun out of Seattle's Allen Institute for AI, the Seattle-based research institution that also housed Xnor. It was valued at $37 million following a $10 million Series A round in 2021, according to PitchBook. It's one of many AI observability tools riding tailwinds from the rapid adoption of AI software and the associated infrastructure needs. Last year WhyLabs rolled out a 'new iteration' of the company's platform designed for real-time security monitoring of generative AI apps. WhyLabs CEO Alessya Visnjic previously spent eight years at Amazon helping develop its machine learning infrastructure. She co-founded WhyLabs with Andy Dang and Sam Gracie, also former Amazon employees. Co-founder Maria Karaivanova was a former Cloudflare executive and principal at Madrona. AI Fund, helmed by Coursera co-founder and chair Andrew Ng, co-led the Series A round with Defy Partners, another Silicon Valley firm. Other backers include Bezos Expeditions, the venture arm of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, along with Seattle firms Madrona and Ascend. WhyLabs is ranked No. 81 on the GeekWire 200, our list of top privately held startups in the Pacific Northwest. It was a finalist for Startup of the Year at the GeekWire Awards in 2023. We'll update this post if we hear more about the deal.
Express Tribune
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Turi, Bangash tribes surrender arms
Security forces display a large cache of arms recovered from terrorists targeted in an operation in Sambaza Sector, Zhob. PHOTO: ISPR The Turi and Bangash tribes voluntarily handed over all types of weapons in their possession to the district administration and law enforcement agencies in Kurram tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday. This development follows the Kohat Agreement, under which both rival factions in the district agreed to surrender their arms and ammunition to the government. A special ceremony was held in Parachinar to mark the occasion. It was attended by the local brigade commander, assistant commissioner, secretary of Anjuman Hussainia, senior security officials, tribal elders, and a large number of local residents. During the event, members of the Bagdi, Lalmay, Borki, Shingak, Harlachi, and Karakhela sub-tribes voluntarily handed over their weapons. This initiative is being widely hailed as a significant step toward establishing lasting peace, restoring mutual trust, and creating a conducive environment for development in the tribal regions. Earlier in January this year, two bunkers were demolished as an initial step toward disarming the warring factions in the troubled district. Under the supervision of the Grand Peace Jirga and local peace committees, security forces demolished the bunkers at Jannat Khan Morcha (Khar Khel) and Jalandhar Morcha (Balish Khel). Kohat Commissioner Muttasim Bilal had consulted the local population regarding the demolition of the bunkers. As per the Apex Committee's decision and the peace agreement, all bunkers will be dismantled. This is considered essential for restoring peace in the area. During the demolition, security forces were stationed in Kurram Balishkhel and Khar Khel. Helicopters conducted aerial surveillance in Kurram Balishkhel. According to the district administration, the demolition of the bunkers will continue until all are removed, as per the government's decision. Under the Apex Committee's directive, weapons are also being collected. Additionally, any violations of the peace agreement will result in action by the government, as stipulated in the accord. Kurram Deputy Commissioner Ashfaq Khan said that according to the peace agreement, all bunkers in the district will be demolished and weapons collected. He said that law enforcement personnel would accompany the teams to the demolition sites. He added that after the security clearance, aid convoys would be dispatched to the region. The Kurram peace agreement, aimed at resolving a century-long conflict in the region, has reportedly led to the recruitment of 400 new personnel and the establishment of additional security measures in January this year. As part of the agreement, new checkpoints will be set up, and two FC platoons will be deployed to bolster security along the region's main roads, Express News reported. Officials said that the new security personnel will focus on safeguarding the Kurram region, which has experienced significant instability.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Grimsby sign Faroese midfielder Turi
Grimsby Town have signed Faroe Islands midfielder Geza David Turi from Vikingur for an undisclosed fee. The 23-year-old has agreed a contract until the summer of 2027 but he will not available for the League Two match at Bromley on Saturday as the club are waiting for international clearance. Turi helped Vikingur win the Faroese Premier League title in 2024, scoring five goals, and has Europa Conference League experience with the Leirvik-based club. "I'm really happy to finally get the deal over the line. I'm looking forward to wearing the black and white shirt and meeting the fans," he told the club website. He is Grimsby's second signing of the January transfer window after they brought in midfielder Darragh Burns from fellow League Two side MK Dons for an undisclosed fee last Sunday.
