Leading tech companies are engaged in a significant competition to advance artificial intelligence, with a notable shift towards hardware integration. Apple’s recent acquisition of the AI startup Q.ai is poised to strengthen its position, particularly within the audio technology domain.
According to a report by Reuters, Apple has completed the acquisition of Q.ai, an Israeli startup. This company specializes in imaging and machine learning, developing technologies that allow devices to understand whispered speech and improve audio clarity in loud settings. Apple has previously integrated new AI functionalities into its AirPods, such as the live translation feature launched last year.
Q.ai also possesses technology capable of detecting subtle facial muscle movements, which could potentially be used to improve Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
The Financial Times indicated that the acquisition is valued at close to $2 billion. This makes it Apple’s second-largest purchase, following the $3 billion acquisition of Beats Electronics in 2014.
Significantly, this marks the second instance where CEO Aviad Maizels has sold a company to Apple. In 2013, he previously sold PrimeSense, a 3D-sensing firm instrumental in Apple’s shift from fingerprint sensors to facial recognition for its iPhones.
Q.ai began operations in 2022, receiving support from investors such as Kleiner Perkins and Gradient Ventures. The company’s founding members, including Aviad Maizels, Yonatan Wexler, and Avi Barliya, are expected to join Apple following the acquisition.
This announcement precedes Apple’s first quarterly earnings report, where analysts project revenues of approximately $138 billion. The company is also anticipated to report its strongest iPhone sales growth in four years.
