Pixelmator, an AI-powered iPhone image editing app, to be acquired by Apple.

• On Friday, Pixelmator announced that Apple had purchased them, the developers of image editing applications for Apple's iPhone and Mac platforms.
• Apple has highlighted Pixelmator apps over the years in its keynote product launches.
• According to Pixelmator's blog post, there will be no changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator apps at this time.

On Friday, Pixelmator announced that Apple had purchased them, the developers of image editing applications for Apple's iPhone and Mac platforms.

Pixelmator, a Lithuanian company, was established in 2007 and is renowned for its photo editing software, Pixelmator and Pixelmator Pro, which rival Adobe Photoshop. Additionally, the company produces Photomator, a photo editing application.

Pixelmator Pro was named Apple's Mac App of the year in 2018 due to its enthusiastic adoption of Apple's machine learning and artificial intelligence features, such as removing distracting objects from photos or making automated color adjustments.

Since the beginning, Pixelmator has been influenced by Apple's approach to design, simplicity, and performance, as stated in their blog post.

Apple does not purchase as many large companies as its Silicon Valley competitors. Instead, it opts for smaller acquisitions of companies with products or individuals that can be utilized to develop Apple features. Neither Pixelmator nor Apple disclosed the transaction price.

According to Pixelmator's blog post, there are currently no plans for any significant changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator apps.

This week, Apple launched the initial version of Apple Intelligence, a set of tools that encompass photo editing capabilities, including the Clean Up feature, which utilizes AI to eliminate individuals or objects from images.

Apple has acquired other popular apps that were recognized at the company's product launches and awards ceremonies.

In 2020, Apple acquired Dark Sky, a weather app that was later incorporated into its default weather app. In 2017, the company bought Workflow, an automation and macro app that evolved into Shortcuts, the iPhone's scripting app and the foundation for a more advanced Siri assistant.