Apple Secures Q.ai in $2 Billion Deal

Key Takeaways

Apple has acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for nearly $2 billion, enhancing its AI capabilities.
The acquisition, Apple’s second largest, allows Q.ai’s team, including its CEO, to join Apple.
Apple aims to leverage Q.ai’s technology for AI-powered wearables and potentially improve its Siri assistant.

Acquisition Details

Apple has announced its acquisition of Israeli startup Q.ai, a strategic move anticipated to enhance its artificial intelligence capabilities. Although the tech giant has not revealed the specific terms of the agreement, sources informed Financial Times that the deal is estimated to be valued at nearly $2 billion. If confirmed, this acquisition stands as Apple’s second largest, trailing only its $3 billion purchase of Beats in 2014.

Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, commented, “Q.ai is a remarkable company that is pioneering new and creative ways to use imaging and machine learning.” While Apple has yet to disclose specific plans regarding the application of Q.ai’s technologies, prior work by the startup suggests potential advancements in AI-powered wearables. Reports indicate that Q.ai’s patented technology might enable devices like headphones or glasses to utilize ‘facial skin micro movements’ for silent communication.

As part of the acquisition, the founding team of Q.ai, which includes CEO Aviad Maizels, will integrate into Apple’s workforce. Notably, this marks Maizels’ second sale to Apple; he previously sold his 3D hearing company, PrimeSense, to Apple in 2013.

The acquisition comes amid ongoing discussions in the tech community regarding the necessity for Apple to engage in mergers and acquisitions to remain competitive in the AI market. During a Q3 earnings call in July 2025, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged, “We’re open to M&A that accelerates our roadmap.” An acquisition like Q.ai could pave the way for Apple to develop an in-house AI chatbot, offering a significant upgrade over its reliance on competitors like Google for powering artificial intelligence in Siri.

The implications of this acquisition extend beyond immediate benefits, as it signals Apple’s commitment to bolstering its presence in AI, potentially leading to innovative integrations in both hardware and software applications in the near future.

The content above is a summary. For more details, see the source article.