Saffron Technology
{{Short description|Technology Company}}
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Saffron Technology, Inc., was a technology company headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, that developed cognitive computing systems. Their systems use incremental learning to understand and unify by entity (person, place or thing) the connections between an entity and other “things” in data, along with the context of their connections and their raw frequency counts. Saffron learns from all sources of data including structured and unstructured data to support knowledge-based decision making. Its patented technology{{cite web|title=Event-Based Anticipation Systems, Methods & Computer Program Products for Associative Memories US 20090083207 A1|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US20090083207|work=Google Patent Search|access-date=26 March 2009}} captures the connections between data points at the entity level and stores these connections in an associative memory. Similarity algorithms and predictive analytics are then combined with the associative index to identify patterns in the data. Saffron’s Natural Intelligence platform was utilized across industries including manufacturing, energy, defense and healthcare, to help decision-makers manage risks, identify opportunities and anticipate future outcomes, thus reducing cost and increasing productivity. Its competitors included IBM Watson and Grok. As a Saffron customer and investor, Intel purchased the company in 2015.{{Cite web |title=Intel buys Saffron AI because it can't afford to miss the next big thing in tech again |url=https://fortune.com/2015/10/26/intel-buys-saffron/ |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=Fortune |language=en}} Intel announced Saffron's decision support product for manufacturing, including Intel's own internal use,{{cite web |title=Intel Saffron AI Speeds Issue Resolution for Manufacturing, Software and Aerospace |url=https://www.intc.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/161/intel-saffron-ai-speeds-issue-resolution-for-manufacturing |website=Intel Press Releases |date=30 April 2018 |access-date=29 December 2024}}{{cite web |title=AI Suite Speeds Decision-Making for Manufacturers |url=https://www.automationworld.com/factory/oee/news/13318659/ai-suite-speeds-decision-making-for-manufacturers |website=Automation World |date=12 May 2018 |access-date=29 December 2024}} but discontinued Saffron's external product and service offerings three years after its acquisition.{{cite web |title=Intel safron AI decision support suite for predictive maintenance |url=https://community.intel.com/t5/Intel-vPro-Platform/Intel-safron-AI-decision-support-suite-for-predictive/m-p/1213643/highlight/true |website=Intel Community Product Support Forums |date=30 September 2020 |access-date=29 December 2024}}
History
Saffron was founded in 1999 by Dr Manuel Aparicio, and Mr. James Fleming.{{cite web|title=Company Overview of Saffron Technology, Inc.|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=627899&privcapId=99166&previousCapId=99166&previousTitle=Saffron%20Technology,%20Inc.|work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek|accessdate=4 May 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
In 2000, former National Security Advisor Admiral (Dr.) John Poindexter joined the board with a focus of applying Associative Memory technology in the fields of National Security and Intelligence.{{cite book|last=Harris|first=Shane|title=The Watchers: The Rise of the Surveillance State|year=2010|publisher=Penguin Group|location=London|isbn=978-1-101-19532-1|pages=281}}
In the first years, the company did most of its work with the U.S. Department of Defense, including in Iraq, analyzing and predicting where IED’s would be located so insurgent bombers could be proactively targeted.{{cite web|last=deBruyn|first=Jason|title=Making a Computer 'Think'|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/print-edition/2011/12/02/making-a-computer-think.html?page=2|work=Triangle Business Journal|accessdate=4 May 2012}}
On March 3, 2014 Saffron Technology raised a round of Series B funding.{{cite web|website=Saffron Technology|title=Saffron Technology Raises $7 million in Series B funding|url=http://ww2.saffrontech.com/press_seriesb/}}
In October 2015, Intel bought Saffron Technology for an undisclosed price.{{cite web|publisher=Fortune|title=Intel buys Saffron AI because it can't afford to miss the next big thing in tech again|url=http://fortune.com/2015/10/26/intel-buys-saffron/|date=26 October 2015|accessdate=28 January 2015}} Intel offered the licensed software with engineering services contracted to develop client applications and support ongoing use.
In August 2018, Intel discontinued the Saffron software offering and supporting engineering services. Intel never issued a press release.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
National security
During the Iraqi insurgency Saffron was used by coalition forces in Iraq to help identify entities that were defined as people, places, and things involved in insurgent networks.
Saffron was contracted by DARPA to work on Project Genoa.{{cite news| last1 = Mayle| first1 = Adam| last2 = Alex | first2 = Knott| date = 2003| title = Total Business Awareness: The Corporate Contracting Behind John Poindexter's Total Information Awareness Program| newspaper = Center for Public Integrity}}
Industry
Saffron's Natural Intelligence platform was utilized by Global 1000 companies across industries including manufacturing, energy, defense and healthcare.{{cite news|last=Evelson|first=Boris|title=It's The Dawning of the Age of BI DBMS|newspaper=Forrester|date=3 June 2011}}