Microsoft has finalized its $19.7B acquisition of conversational AI and ambient intelligence solution provider Nuance Communications Inc. With the ink figuratively still wet on the deal, executive vp of Cloud + AI Group for Microsoft, Scott Guthrie offered some words of praise for Nuance as well as a hint at what’s to come from the collaboration.
“Completion of this significant and strategic acquisition brings together Nuance’s best-in-class conversational AI and ambient intelligence with Microsoft’s secure and trusted industry cloud offerings.
This powerful combination will help providers offer more affordable, effective and accessible healthcare, and help organizations in every industry create more personalized and meaningful customer experiences. I couldn’t be more pleased to welcome the Nuance team to our Microsoft family.”
Continuing the vision, Microsoft seems poised to leverage Nuance’s underlying ambient AI technology to help vertically stack Azure solutions for industries such as healthcare, financial services, retail and telecommunications to fill in service gaps for both consumers and businesses.
While Azure does offer similar Nuance-like solutions, Nuance already has “deep vertical expertise and proven business outcomes across healthcare, retail, telecommunications and more, which should accelerate Microsoft’s plans to deploy its services to those fields. In the end, Microsoft may be looking to Nuance to help brand services such as early detection, personalized customer experiences, and streamline online businesses processes with greater intuitive AI steps.
As for welcoming Nuance into the Microsoft fold, Nuance CEO Mark Benjamin will remain chief executive officer of the company and report Scott Guthrie and his Microsoft Cloud + AI department for the time being.
