Apple Acquires Israeli AI Startup Q.ai
Apple has acquired Israeli artificial intelligence startup Q.ai to strengthen its capabilities in audio processing and on-device intelligence, according to people familiar with the matter. The company has not disclosed the financial terms of the deal.
Focus on On-Device AI
Q.ai is known for developing AI technologies that improve how devices understand and process sound, speech and contextual audio, particularly in challenging environments. Its work is focused on running advanced AI directly on devices, reducing reliance on cloud processing and improving privacy and response time.
Team to Join Apple
As part of the acquisition, Q.ai’s engineering and research team will join Apple. The startup is based in Israel and was founded by technologists with prior experience in computer vision and audio intelligence. Apple is expected to integrate the team into its existing AI and machine learning groups.
Strategic Importance
The acquisition aligns with Apple’s broader push to expand on-device AI across products such as iPhones, AirPods and future wearables. Apple has been steadily investing in AI that operates locally on hardware to enhance performance while maintaining user privacy.
The move highlights Apple’s continued interest in acquiring specialised AI firms to support long-term product development.
