Cisco in talks to nab AI startup BabbleLabs

US networking giant plans to use company's noise cancelling tech to bolster Webex offering

Cisco has announced its intention to acquire California-based AI software start-up BabbleLabs, in order to improve its Webex conferencing tool.

The deep learning specialist was founded in 2017, with AI software that isolates and removes background noise, while enhancing client audio.

Cisco security and applications business unit SVP, Jeetu Patel, said the vendor had surveyed customers who picked out frustration at background noise as their top complaint with video calls.

"A great meeting experience starts with great audio," he said.

"We're thrilled to welcome BabbleLabs' team of highly skilled engineers. Their technology is going to provide our customers with yet another important innovation - automatically removing unwanted noise - to continue enabling exceptional Webex meeting experiences."

BabbleLabs CEO Chris Rowen welcomed the prospect of joining Cisco to scale the business.

"The Cisco team shares our passion about speech as the core of collaboration and communication. Cisco's Collaboration platform will enable us to quickly scale our exceptional speech enhancement technology for the hundreds of millions of Webex users."

The networking giant didn't disclose the purchase price.

The acquisition is due to close in the first quarter of Cisco's FY2021.