Apple has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup specializing in imaging and machine learning technologies focused on audio enhancement, according to Reuters. The acquisition strengthens Apple’s push into hardware-centered AI as competition with Meta and Google intensifies.
Q.ai develops technology that enables devices to interpret whispered speech and improve audio clarity in noisy environments. Apple has increasingly integrated AI features into its hardware, including live translation in AirPods and advanced sensing capabilities tied to the Vision Pro headset. The company has also explored detecting subtle facial muscle activity to enhance mixed-reality experiences.
The Financial Times reported the deal is valued at nearly $2 billion, making it Apple’s second-largest acquisition after its $3 billion purchase of Beats Electronics in 2014. Q.ai was founded in 2022 and is backed by investors including Kleiner Perkins and Gradient Ventures. Its CEO, Aviad Maizels, previously sold PrimeSense to Apple in 2013, a deal that supported the development of Face ID.
The acquisition comes ahead of Apple’s quarterly earnings, with analysts expecting roughly $138 billion in revenue and the strongest iPhone sales growth in four years.
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