Unless we’re talking about big companies and popular brands like Beats or Shazam, Apple rarely details or even confirms its corporate acquisitions. The Cupertino-based tech giant often buys startups at small prices that are seen as ambitious and innovative enough to help future developments in key business areas like chipmaking, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence.

The latest such transaction was reportedly closed earlier this year with absolutely no fanfare, as recently discovered by The Information. Silk Labs is the name of the new wholly owned Apple subsidiary, and although ...