Apple acquired Israeli AI startup Q.ai for $1.6 billion

According to informed sources, the deal value was approximately $1.6 billion. The startup's key technologies, related to speech recognition in complex environments and facial micro-movement analysis, could be integrated into Apple's product line, including AirPods and the Vision Pro headset. Investors include Matter Venture Partners, Kleiner Perkins, Spark Capital, Exor, and GV.

Apple did not disclose specific plans for integrating Q.ai's technologies, but noted that the startup was working on machine learning solutions that would enable devices to recognize whispers and improve audio quality in background noise. Q.ai's patent applications include technology that uses micromovements of facial muscles to recognize speech, identify users, and track a range of physiological metrics.

As part of the deal, approximately 100 Q.ai employees will join Apple, including CEO Aviad Maizels and co-founders Yonatan Wexler and Avi Barlija. Maizels previously founded and sold PrimeSense to Apple, whose 3D sensor technology later formed the basis for Face ID facial recognition technology.

As Aviad Maizels noted in his statement, collaboration with Apple opens up opportunities to realize the potential of the technologies developed. Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, Johnny Srouji, called Q.ai an outstanding company, pioneering new ways to use images and machine learning.