AI, one of the semiconductor giant’s six acquisitions over the weekend, for an undisclosed sum. This agreement is worth almost $2 billion. It represents Apple’s second-largest acquisition ever, after the $3 billion buy-up of Beats Electronics in 2014. The $200 million purchase illustrates Apple’s long term strategy of continuing to improve its artificial intelligence expertise within an accelerating and dynamic technological ecosystem.
Founded in 2022, Q.ai has garnered rapid success. Their pioneering technologies focus on improving the device’s ability to understand quieter or even “whispered” speech and make speech more intelligible in challenging environments. The majority women-led startup is backed by big names, such as Kleiner Perkins and Gradient Ventures. This acquisition not only strengthens Apple’s AI portfolio but brings aboard key talent, as Q.ai’s CEO Aviad Maizels, along with co-founders Yonatan Wexler and Avi Barliya, will join Apple as part of the transaction.
Maizels is no stranger to making deals with Apple, having sold 3D-sensing company PrimeSense to the tech giant back in 2013. PrimeSense’s work paved the way for Apple’s shift from fingerprint sensors to facial recognition technology now deployed in iPhones. This historic connection is just a further example of Apple’s long-standing desire to buy up cool, innovative companies that can add to its product portfolio.
The acquisition was first reported by Reuters, with The Financial Times later reporting the valuation of the deal. Apple continues to challenge the market on what’s possible in AI technology with this introduction. This front end is quickly becoming industry standard across all consumer electronics and services.
As Apple moves toward its quarterly earnings report, Wall St. analysts are projecting Apple’s revenue at around $138 billion. This powerful financial showing underscores just how firmly the company has established its market dominance. It lays the groundwork for deeper investment in exciting new technologies, including those being created at Q.ai.
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