Apple Acquires Israeli Stealth AI Firm Q.ai
Deal signals Apple’s continued preference for small, capability-led AI acquisitions
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Apple has acquired Israeli artificial intelligence startup Q.ai, the company confirmed on Thursday, in a move that underscores the iPhone maker’s steady, capability-driven approach to artificial intelligence. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Q.ai has operated largely out of public view and has not launched a commercial product. However, its website and investor disclosures suggest the company was developing audio-related or “communication enhancement” technology—an area that aligns closely with Apple’s recent emphasis on on-device AI and audio intelligence. The startup was led by CEO Aviad Maizels, who previously founded PrimeSense, the Israeli company Apple acquired in 2013. PrimeSense’s depth-sensing technology later became a core component of Face ID, introduced in 2017.
Confirming the acquisition, Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, said the company was “thrilled to acquire the company” and highlighted Maizels’ leadership. Srouji oversees Apple’s custom silicon and hardware-software integration, suggesting Q.ai’s work may be closely tied to Apple’s long-term chip and device strategy.
According to PitchBook, Q.ai was backed by GV, Kleiner Perkins, and Spark Capital. The startup’s focus on communication enhancement is particularly relevant as Apple continues to add AI-driven features to products such as AirPods, including intelligent noise cancellation and live translation.
The acquisition comes amid investor pressure on Apple to move more aggressively in AI, as rivals invest heavily in large models and cloud infrastructure. Apple, by contrast, has favored smaller, targeted acquisitions that strengthen specific product capabilities. Earlier this month, the company also announced a partnership with Google to integrate Gemini models into some Apple Intelligence features.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has said the company remains “very open to M&A that accelerates our roadmap,” a strategy the Q.ai deal appears to reinforce.
