Google acquires Siri-like messaging app Emu and will shut it down

Google buys the “relatively new” messaging app Emu for an undisclosed amount. As a result of the acquisition, the app will be shut down on 25th August, 2014 and existing users will not be able to send, receive or download messages.

Emu is a new smartphone messaging app (for Android) that works much like Siri and also has features similar to Google Now. Emu is relatively new because it just came out of beta recently in the beginning of 2014. The app detects your conversations and adds pieces of information that helps execute what you were conversing about or adds helpful information to assist you in the process.

For instance, if you were talking about having lunch at a particular location, Emu will suggest you restaurants, restaurant reviews, and movie suggestions in the nearby areas in that location. It also gives you an option to add the event to your calendar. The app does this by pulling your (or the relevant) location and using artificial intelligence.

The fact that Emu has some of Siri’s and some of Google Now’s resemblance is not surprising given that its CEO Gummi Hafsteinsson is an ex Google employee and he has also worked with Apple for Siri.

Since the actual app, Emu, will be shut down as the result of the acquisition, Google’s plan should be to use its features to spice up its existing services like Hangout and Google Now.

Emu has announced the acquisition on its site saying goodbye:

That’s right! And we’re super-excited. But to focus on our next chapter, we have to close the last one. As of August 25, 2014, we’ll be shutting down the Emu app. It will no longer be available in the App Store, and existing users won’t be able to send, receive, or download messages. We know it’s an inconvenience, and we regret that.

Let’s see what Google has in its pipeline! If you are a user of Emu, it is time to look for an alternative.