Apple has confirmed the acquisition of Q.AI, a secretive Israeli startup pioneering “silent speech” technology, in a deal valued at approximately $2 billion.
The acquisition marks Apple’s second-largest deal in history, trailing only the $3 billion purchase of Beats in 2014. Q.AI’s core technology analyzes “facial skin micro-movements” to interpret speech without the need for audible sound.
This move signals Apple’s intent to dominate the next generation of wearable devices. By integrating Q.AI’s technology into future AirPods or smart glasses, Apple could allow users to communicate privately with an AI assistant through non-verbal “silent speech.”
The deal helps Apple narrow the gap with competitors like Meta, Google, and OpenAI. While Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses rely on voice commands, Q.AI’s tech could give Apple a “silent” advantage in public or noisy environments.
Interestingly, Q.AI was co-founded by Aviad Maizels, the founder of PrimeSense—the company Apple acquired in 2013 to build the foundation for FaceID. This reunion brings a team of over 100 specialists back into Apple’s hardware technologies group under Johny Srouji.
“Q.AI is pioneering new and creative ways to use imaging and machine learning,” said Srouji. “We are excited to bring their expertise into our vision for future hardware.”
