Apple has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup focused on artificial intelligence for audio technology. The company confirmed the deal on Thursday but did not reveal the purchase price. However, reports suggest the acquisition could be worth nearly $2 billion, though that figure was not independently confirmed.
What Q.ai Works On
Apple did not share specific plans for how it will use Q.ai’s technology. Still, it highlighted that the startup has developed machine learning tools designed to improve how devices process sound.
Q.ai’s work includes:
- helping devices understand whispered speech
- improving audio quality in noisy or difficult environments
- exploring advanced AI features tied to speech and sound recognition
Q.ai Patent Hints at Next Level Audio AI
Last year, Q.ai filed a patent that described using facial skin micromovements to detect words a person mouths or speaks. The patent also suggested the technology could:
- identify a person
- detect emotions
- estimate heart rate and breathing
- measure other physical indicators
This shows Q.ai’s technology goes beyond normal voice recognition and moves into deeper AI based sensing.
Q.ai Team Joins Apple
Q.ai has about 100 employees, and Apple said the entire team will join the company. This includes:
- CEO Aviad Maizels
- co founders Yonatan Wexler
- Avi Barliya
Maizels previously founded PrimeSense, a 3D sensing company that Apple acquired in 2013. That deal played a major role in Apple’s shift from fingerprint unlock toward Face ID technology.
Why This Matters for Apple and AirPods
Apple has already been adding AI based features into its AirPods lineup. Last year, the company introduced a tool that allows AirPods to translate speech between languages.
With Q.ai joining Apple, the company could improve future audio experiences such as:
- smarter noise handling
- stronger voice recognition in real world environments
- advanced AI powered audio enhancements in AirPods and iPhones
Apple’s hardware chief Johny Srouji praised Q.ai for building creative ways to use imaging and machine learning, calling the acquisition an exciting step forward.
