Apple has acquired Israeli artificial intelligence startup Q.AI for a reported price of nearly $2 billion, marking its second-largest acquisition to date behind the $3 billion purchase of Beats in 2014. The deal underscores a significant push by Apple to bolster its AI capabilities amid intense competition from rivals.
Q.AI, founded in 2022, specializes in technology that can analyze facial micro-movements and skin vibrations to interpret "silent speech," potentially enabling non-verbal communication with devices. This technology could be integrated into future versions of Apple's AirPods, Vision Pro headset, and Siri to allow for more private and subtle user interactions. The startup's CEO, Aviad Maizels, previously founded PrimeSense, which Apple acquired in 2013 to develop its Face ID technology.