Written by StockNews.com

Google parent Alphabet Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOGL) has always been a major force in the data science and machine learning world, and its latest acquisition of Kaggle, a data science and machine learning competition specialist, will only solidify its strong positioning even further.

Kaggle absolutely dominates its specific niche of providing a platform for companies and individuals to compete against each other for real money.

TechCrunch has details on the move, which hasn’t yet been made official:

Sources tell us that Google is acquiring Kaggle, a platform that hosts data science and machine learning competitions. Details about the transaction remain somewhat vague, but given that Google is hosting its Cloud Next conference in San Francisco this week, the official announcement could come as early as tomorrow.

Kaggle, which was founded in 2010 by Anthony Goldbloom and Ben Hamner, boasts over 500,000 data scientists on its platform. Google and Kaggle have already worked together in the past, and are currently teaming up on a $100,000 competition to accurately classify YouTube videos.

In all likelihood, Google values Kaggle for its deep user base, rather than any proprietary technology, which is a bit of a departure from its usual penchant for cutting edge intellectual property.

Since the deal still hasn’t officially been announced, financial details of the transaction aren’t yet known. Kaggle has raised about $12.5 million in several rounds of financing since its establishment nearly seven years ago.

Alphabet Inc. shares were trading at $854.97 per share on Wednesday morning, up $3.82 (+0.45%). Year-to-date, GOOGL has gained 7.89%, versus a 6.25% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.

GOOGL currently has a StockNews.com POWR Rating of A (Strong Buy), and is ranked #1 of 43 stocks in the Internet category.

TM Editors Update: Although Goldbloom would not confirm at the time of the TechCrunch interview, he subsequently blogged at Kaggle that it’s true.