Apple announced its acquisition of Q.AI for a reported nearly $2 billion, making it the company's second-largest acquisition to date.

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Apple acquired Israeli AI startup Q.AI for nearly $2 billion, its second-largest acquisition after Beats Electronics. Q.AI specializes in audio processing technologies including whispered speech interpretation and noise reduction, plus facial muscle detection capabilities. The startup's founding team, led by CEO Aviad Maizels (who previously sold PrimeSense to Apple in 2013), will join Apple. The acquisition strengthens Apple's AI hardware capabilities, particularly for AirPods and Vision Pro products, as tech giants compete in the AI hardware race.

Apple buys Israeli startup Q.AI as the AI race heats up

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