Apple Acquires AI Company Q.ai
Apple has acquired the Israel-based startup Q.ai to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities. The deal is reported to be worth approximately $2 billion.
Tech Giant Makes AI Move
Apple has taken a significant step to strengthen its presence in the artificial intelligence (AI) field. The company announced its acquisition of the Israel-based startup Q.ai. The Financial Times reported that the value of the deal, which was not officially disclosed, is approximately $2 billion.
This acquisition marks Apple's second-largest purchase on record after its $3 billion acquisition of Beats in 2014. Johny Srouji, Apple's senior vice president of hardware technologies, described Q.ai as "an extraordinary company that has pioneered the use of imaging and machine learning in new and creative ways."
Technology and Future Plans
Apple did not share details on how it will use Q.ai's technology. However, the startup's past work and patents point to AI-focused moves by Apple in the wearable technology space. According to the Financial Times report, Q.ai's patents include technologies for headphones or glasses that enable communication without speech by using 'facial skin micro-movements'.
Q.ai's founding team, including CEO Aviad Maizels, will join Apple as part of the deal. This is the second company Maizels has sold to Apple. The entrepreneur was also a founder of PrimeSense, a 3D hearing technology company acquired by Apple in 2013.
A Critical Move in the AI Race
Technology sector observers have been discussing for months that Apple might resort to acquisitions to close its gap in the AI race. Apple CEO Tim Cook, during the Q3 2025 financial results meeting in July, stated, "We are open to mergers and acquisitions that will accelerate our roadmap."
It is assessed that such a deal could pave the way for Apple to develop its own fully in-house AI chatbot, instead of relying on a competitor like Google to enhance the AI in its assistant Siri. Mergers in the AI field have recently gained momentum. A similar strategic consolidation move was discussed in the news titled Elon Musk Plans to Merge SpaceX and xAI.
