Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) has acquired startup FacioMetrics to enhance its photo and video special effects.
FacioMetrics confirmed the acquisition with a statement from founder CEO Fernando De la Torre on its website. The CEO didn’t reveal any financial details of the acquisition. However, he did note that joining Facebook will allow the company to expand its research.
FacioMetrics develops “state-of-the-art computer vision and machine learning algorithms for facial image analysis.” The startup has used this technology in several apps for mobile devices. Former Carnegie Mellon University students are responsible for its creation.
Now that Facebook Inc has acquired the tech startup, all of its apps have been removed from Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) App Store and Alphabet Inc’s (NASDAQ:GOOG,GOOGL) Google Play Store.
“How people share and communicate is changing, and things like masks and other effects allow people to express themselves in fun and creative ways,” a Facebook Inc spokesperson told VentureBeat. “We’re excited to welcome the FacioMetrics team, who will help bring more fun effects to photos and videos and build even more engaging sharing experiences on Facebook.”
It’s likely that Facebook Inc is planning to use FacioMetrics’ facial image technology to compete with other social media platforms. Snapchat comes to mind as one of the platforms that FB likely wants to better compete with using this technology.
Facebook’s Instagram has already copied Snapchat with its Instagram Stories feature. Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom even admitted as much. FB may also want to prepare for more competition with SnapChat following news that it plans to go public next year.
