AI & Machine Learning Acquisitions in 2017

Verint Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: VRNT) has acquired all outstanding equity interests in Next IT Corporation and its affiliate Next IT Innovation Labs, LLC for roughly $30 million in cash at closing, plus potential future cash payments. The acquisition adds conversational AI and intelligent virtual assistant capabilities to Verint's cloud self-service and automation portfolio to accelerate its AI-driven customer engagement solutions.

Appen Limited has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Leapforce Inc., a Pleasanton, California–based provider of search relevance and human-evaluated data services. The deal combines Leapforce's proprietary evaluation platform and crowd resources with Appen's large global workforce to expand Appen's AI and machine-learning data annotation capabilities worldwide.

Genpact has acquired RAGE Frameworks, a Dedham, Massachusetts–based provider of knowledge-based AI and cognitive computing platforms for enterprise automation. The deal expands Genpact's AI capabilities and will allow it to take RAGE's platform to existing and new clients across financial services, insurance, CPG and other industries.