Semantic Machines: Microsoft buys Bay Area conversational artificial-intelligence company

Microsoft Corp. has acquired Semantic Machines Inc., a Berkeley-based company that specializes in conversational artificial intelligence to help Microsoft's digital assistant Cortana and chatboxes have natural conversations with consumers. With the acquisition of Semantic Machines, Microsoft said it will establish a conversational AI center of excellence in Berkeley. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by either company. The startup had raised about $21 million in funding from investors...