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Apple Buys Israeli AI Audio Startup Q.ai in Undisclosed Deal

By  |  January 29, 2026

Apple has acquired Q.ai, a Tel Aviv–based startup that develops artificial intelligence technology focused on audio, marking the iPhone maker’s latest move to deepen its investment in next-generation sound and speech tools. The company confirmed the purchase on Thursday, though it did not reveal how much it paid, according to Reuters.

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    Q.ai has been backed by a group of prominent venture capital firms including Matter Venture Partners, Kleiner Perkins, Spark Capital, Exor and GV, formerly known as Google Ventures. While Apple declined to discuss the financial terms, the Financial Times estimated the deal was close to $2 billion, a valuation Reuters said it could not independently confirm.

    Apple also offered few details about how it plans to integrate Q.ai’s technology into its products. However, per Reuters, the startup has been developing machine-learning tools designed to help electronic devices better understand very soft or whispered speech and to improve sound quality in noisy or difficult listening environments. Such capabilities could be particularly useful for products like AirPods, iPhones and other voice-enabled Apple devices.

    The Israeli startup has also been exploring more experimental uses of artificial intelligence and sensors. According to Reuters, Q.ai filed a patent application last year describing a system that analyzes “facial skin micromovements” to recognize words that are mouthed or softly spoken, identify individuals, and even estimate emotional states and physical signals such as heart rate and breathing.

    Read more: Apple Accused by UK Developer of Blocking Competition in iOS Market

    As part of the acquisition, Q.ai’s entire staff of about 100 people will become Apple employees. This includes its chief executive, Aviad Maizels, and co-founders Yonatan Wexler and Avi Barliya, the companies said, per Reuters.

    Maizels is no stranger to Apple. He previously founded PrimeSense, a three-dimensional sensing company that Apple bought in 2013. That acquisition later played a role in Apple’s transition from fingerprint-based unlocking to facial recognition on its smartphones. In a statement released with the Q.ai deal, Maizels said, “Joining Apple opens extraordinary possibilities for pushing boundaries and realizing the full potential of what we’ve created, and we’re thrilled to bring these experiences to people everywhere.”

    Apple has been steadily rolling out new artificial intelligence features across its product lineup, particularly in its wearable devices. Last year, the company introduced AirPods software that can translate conversations between different languages in real time, according to Reuters, highlighting Apple’s focus on using AI to make audio more useful and accessible.

    Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, praised Q.ai’s work in a statement announcing the acquisition. “Q.ai is a remarkable company that is pioneering new and creative ways to use imaging and machine learning,” Srouji said. “We’re thrilled to acquire the company, with Aviad at the helm, and are even more excited for what’s to come.”

    Source: Reuters