Apple has acquired Q.ai, deepening its push into AI-powered hardware as competition intensifies across consumer devices. First reported by Reuters, the deal brings Q.ai’s imaging and machine learning capabilities to Apple, including technology for interpreting whispered speech and enhancing audio in noisy environments. The Financial Times reported the acquisition value at nearly $2 billion, making it one of Apple’s largest purchases.
Q.ai was founded in 2022 by Aviad Maizels, who previously sold PrimeSense to Apple, and is backed by Kleiner Perkins and Gradient Ventures. Maizels and co-founders Yonatan Wexler and Avi Barliya will join Apple, supporting advances across audio and spatial computing as the company reports quarterly results.
