eBay buys AI biz Expertmaker for machine learning boost

eBay has announced it is buying AI firm Expertmaker, which specialises in AI, machine learning and data analytics.

The e-commerce giant has been working with Expertmaker since 2010 to organise and crunch massive data sets.

It will join eBay’s structured data product and technology team. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Amit Menipaz, vice president and general manager of structured data at eBay, said Expertmaker’s expertise woulid help the auction site build a “best-in-class product catalogue”.

On its website, Expertmaker says that its “genetics-inspired multi-AI approach extracts hidden value in your data, turning chaotic and unstructured data into actionable knowledge to predict outcomes and optimize your business”, which is handy considering eBay has more than 900 million listings scattered throughout its online catalogue.

Expertmaker was founded in 2006 by Lars Hård who says he has more than 25 years' experience in AI, machine-learning and data. He has founded two other companies: Experlytics, in healthcare, and Greve Graphics – claimed to be Scandinavia’s first games development company.

Expertmaker clients include mobile operators Vodafone and Telia, US retailer Safeway and Red Laser, an eBay company that specialises in mobile shopping and scanning. ®