Appen

Appen Limited is a global leader in providing high-quality datasets and human-in-the-loop services that power artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) systems for some of the world’s largest technology companies. Founded in Sydney, Australia in 1996 by linguist Dr. Julie Vonwiller, Appen initially focused on speech and language data collection. The company expanded rapidly through strategic acquisitions, including the US-based Butler Hill Group (2011), Wikman Remer (2012), Mendip Media Group (2016), Leapforce (2017), Figure Eight (2019), and Quadrant (2021), broadening its capabilities in data annotation, search relevance, and mobile location data. Appen’s business model centers on providing enterprises with software and managed services to collect, curate, fine-tune, and monitor data for AI applications, leveraging a global crowd workforce of over one million flexible contributors across more than 180 languages and 130 countries. The company’s clients include eight of the world’s ten largest technology firms, reflecting its strong market position and reputation for quality and scale. Appen differentiates itself through its deep expertise, scalable platform, and commitment to data quality, supporting a wide range of AI use cases such as natural language processing, computer vision, automatic speech recognition, and content moderation. Recent developments include leadership changes, with Ryan Kolln appointed CEO in February 2024, and ongoing investments in platform innovation and compliance. Appen is publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: APX) and maintains offices in Australia, the US, UK, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.[1][3][4]