Microsoft in talks to buy AI firm Nuance communications that laid groundwork for Apple's Siri

Reports have cited sources who said that Nuance’s acquisition could have major implications for Apple. The deal could take place as soon as this week and will be Microsoft's second-biggest acquisition after LinkedIn.

Microsoft may soon acquire AI firm and speech technology company Nuance for $16 billion. The deal could take place as soon as this week, according to reports, and will be Microsoft's second-biggest acquisition after LinkedIn, which it had acquired for $24 billion. The technology provider is also behind voice analysis for Apple's Siri. Bloomberg cited sources who noted that Nuance’s acquisition could have major implications for Apple as it laid the groundwork for Siri’s technology. Apple used Nuance's voice recognition engine to enable its digital assistant Siri to hear and understand user requests. The price being discussed could value Nuance at about $56 a share, though the terms could still change, according to the publication.