Microsoft acquires messaging app developer Wand Labs to cook up some online chat magic - CNET

Microsoft has been on a spending spree. Just days after aouncing that it will buy Linkedin for $26.2 billion, the company aounced today via a blog that it has acquired the messaging app developer Wand Labs.

The deal is part of Microsoft's bigger strategy in developing its "conversation as a platform."

Founded by Vishal Sharma in 2013, Wand Labs focuses on semantic ontologies, services mapping, third-party developer integration and conversational interferaces.

Terms of the deal are not disclosed at this time but Wand Labs' team will be added to Microsoft's Bing team and will focus on artificial intelligence and online chat bots. Basically, that means soon the machine will get so smart that you have no idea you've been chatting with one for months.