Microsoft PH acquires Nuance Communications—to equip local healthcare institutions with AI technology
Microsoft Philippines, Inc. is looking to bring conversational artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to healthcare institutions in the country to help them address patients’ needs.
Abid Zaidi, Microsoft Philippines chief operating officer, said in a virtual interview on April 30th that the company recently entered into an agreement to acquire Nuance Communications, Inc., a conversational AI solutions provider, for “close to $20 billion.”
“What this means for the Philippines is that, although we have been engaging with healthcare institutions here, with AI technology we’ll be better geared up to address their needs… If everything goes through, we will be able to have a bigger addressable (global) market of about $500 billion,” said Zaidi.
Microsoft Corp. said the acquisition announcement represents the latest step in its “industry-specific cloud strategy.”
Nuance provides AI expertise and customer engagement solutions across interactive voice response (IVR), virtual assistants, and digital and biometric solutions to businesses, including healthcare providers.
“This expertise will come together with the breadth and depth of Microsoft’s cloud, including Azure, Teams, and Dynamics 365, to deliver next-generation customer engagement and security solutions,” said Microsoft.
“AI is technology’s most important priority, and health care is its most urgent application… Together, with our partner ecosystem, we will put advanced AI solutions into the hands of professionals everywhere to drive better decision-making and create more meaningful connections, as we accelerate the growth of Microsoft Cloud for Health Care and Nuance,” said Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella.
In the Philippines, Microsoft has been partnering with hospitals to provide cloud platform technologies.
“We’ve come to the realization that we need to make sure our technologies are also getting up to meet the current and future demands… That is pushing us to build technologies… and see what partner solutions are out there that we can work with,” said Zaidi.
Zaidi added that Microsoft Philippines is still working with policymakers so the company “can better take care of the concerns of the customers” on matters such as security and safety.
SOURCE: Business World
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