Databricks Buys Generative AI Firm MosaicML for $1.3bn

In the US, big data and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions firm Databricks has acquired generative AI platform MosaicML, which uses large language models through which users can build their own AI. The transaction is valued at approximately $1.3 billion, inclusive of retention packages.

MosaicML was founded in 2021 by former Intel execs Naveen Rao and Hanlin Tang (pictured), and now has offices in San Francisco, New York, Palo Alto and San Diego and a team of around 60. The company offers a fully managed infrastructure and software tools through which to train and deploy large-scale machine learning models with users' own data. In addition, it optimizes every layer of the model development process - from algorithms to systems to hardware - to help users gain insights, faster, and its team will also help users train the ML models.

According to Databricks, its own Lakehouse Platform, combined with MosaicML's technology, will offer customers a 'simple, fast way' to retain control of, security for and ownership over their data without high costs. The entire MosaicML team, including its research team, is expected to join Databricks after the transaction closes.

Rao comments: 'At MosaicML, we believe in a world where everyone is empowered to build and train their own models, imbued with their own opinions and viewpoints - and joining forces with Databricks will help us make that belief a reality. Together with Databricks, we will tip the scales in the favor of many, and we'll do it as kindred spirits: researchers turned entrepreneurs sharing a similar mission. We look forward to continuing this journey together with the AI community'.

Web sites: www.databricks.com and www.mosaicml.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.