Apple acquires Q.ai for $2B to boost AI capabilities
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'Apple acquired Israeli AI startup Q.ai for approximately $2 billion on Thursday, a deal sources say primarily secures whisper-speech audio technology developed by Face ID veteran Aviad Maizels.
'Apple acquired Israeli AI startup Q.ai for approximately $2 billion on Thursday, a deal sources say primarily secures whisper-speech audio technology developed by Face ID veteran Aviad Maizels.
The acquisition, reported by multiple outlets including WCCFtech and TechCrunch, represents one of Apple’s largest ever, underscoring the company's aggressive push to close the gap with rivals in artificial intelligence. This move comes amid an intensifying AI race where competitors like Google and Samsung have already integrated advanced generative AI features into their mobile operating systems and devices. According to a report from the Financial Times, detailed on Fosstodon, Q.ai’s core technology involves using optical sensors to detect “micro-movements in facial skin,” enabling the understanding of non-verbal cues and facilitating silent conversations with an AI assistant. This whisper-speech audio technology was developed by Aviad Maizels, a co-founder of the Israeli facial recognition company PrimeSense, which Apple acquired in 2013 and whose technology became the foundation for Face ID.
Tech Funding News reported the deal is valued at approximately $2 billion and was finalized on Thursday. The primary asset Apple secures is Q.ai’s pioneering work in interpreting subvocalizations, or silent commands, which could be integrated into future products like AirPods or a wearable headset. This technology allows for private, silent interactions with devices, a significant advantage in crowded environments or for users with accessibility needs. The Financial Times report further suggested the optical sensor technology could be embedded in headphones or glasses to capture these micro-gestures.
Industry analysts see the acquisition as a direct effort by Apple to build a unique, privacy-centric AI offering that differentiates itself from cloud-dependent competitors. The deal follows Apple’s recent announcement of its partnership with Google to integrate the Gemini model into Siri, as CEO Tim Cook clarified during the company's Q1 2026 earnings conference. That hybrid approach, combining on-device processing with its Private Cloud Compute network, emphasizes Apple’s commitment to privacy while expanding its AI capabilities. The company also recently posted record-setting quarterly results with $42.1 billion in profit, providing ample capital for such strategic acquisitions.
The purchase of Q.ai is expected to accelerate the development of Apple’s own AI stack, which Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported “runs on Anthropic.” This acquisition of a hardware-based, on-device input solution aligns with Apple’s philosophy of integrated hardware and software and could provide a foundational technology for its rumored AI pin or next-generation AirPods. The competitive timing is also critical; WCCFtech reported that Android flagships featuring new Snapdragon and Dimensity chipsets will launch in the same month as the iPhone 18, eliminating any previous time-to-market advantage Apple enjoyed.