APPLE ACQUIRES INVRS.IO, EXPANDING AI-DRIVEN OPTICS RESEARCH

Apple has quietly taken control of the assets of invrs.io, a small startup focused on artificial intelligence-guided optics, and integrated its founder, Martin Schubert, into the company.

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The transaction was disclosed to the European Commission last October but has only now come to light publicly, offering a glimpse into Apple's ongoing effort to deepen its AI research capabilities beyond software.

Invrs.io was effectively a one-person venture. Schubert, its sole founder and employee, built a research profile centered on applying machine learning to optical design — an area increasingly relevant as consumer devices rely more heavily on cameras, sensors, and advanced display technologies.

AI MEETS OPTICAL ENGINEERING

AI-guided optics refers to the use of machine learning models to optimize how light interacts with lenses, sensors, and imaging systems. Rather than relying solely on traditional physics-based simulations, AI systems can analyze massive parameter combinations to discover configurations that improve performance, reduce size, or lower production costs.