Google's latest purchase is a London-based artificial intelligence company that has created learning algorithms applied to games and e-commerce.
In the reportedly $400-million deal, Google has acquired DeepMind Technologies, and the purchase has been confirmed by a company spokesperson, PCWorld.com reported.
The tech giant declined to give any further information about the purchase at this time, PCWorld said.
Founded by Demis Hassabis, Shane Legg and Mustafa Suleyman, DeepMind is a self-named "cutting edge artificial intelligence company." According to the website, DeepMind's researchers and engineers "combine the best techniques from machine learning and systems neuroscience to build powerful general-purpose learning algorithms."
The company's research has been commercially used for simulations, e-commerce and games, DeepMind said.
Re/code first reported the purchase on Sunday. According to a Re/code source, DeepMind comprises around 50 employees and has garnered more than $50 million in funding. DeepMind competed with such companies as Google and Facebook to acquire its talent, the source said.
Google launched its Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab in May to focus on machine learning. The tech behemoth, which has only grown more rapidly in the past year, also bought eight robotics companies in the month of December.
One of last month's acquisitions was the unique Boston Dynamics company, which has built a four-legged robot named BigDog that can climb hills, maneuver on ice and even stay upright when kicked.
Prior to this week's DeepMind deal, Google's most recent major purchase was the $3.2-billion acquisition of Nest, a company that makes smart thermostats and smoke detectors.
Analysts are saying that Google's acquisition could jumpstart growth of the "Internet of things," a tech trend where connectivity has been implemented into such objects as kitchen appliances, lighting and even beds.
Nest, which will stay as its own distinct brand after the deal closes, benefits Google with a strong line of products and a killer design team, Reuters reported.
See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?
