Apple has significantly bolstered its artificial intelligence ambitions by acquiring the Israel-based startup Q.ai. While Apple has not officially disclosed the financial terms, reports from the Financial Times value the transaction at nearly $2 billion. If confirmed, this would represent Apple’s second-largest acquisition in history, eclipsed only by the $3 billion purchase of Beats in 2014.
Read: Everything we know about the upcoming iPhone Fold
The acquisition brings a specialized focus on imaging and machine learning to the Cupertino company. Johny Srouji, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies, praised Q.ai as a pioneer in creative AI applications. While Apple has remained quiet on specific integration plans, the startup’s intellectual property suggests a move toward advanced AI-powered wearables. According to the Times, Q.ai patents describe technology for headphones or glasses that can interpret “facial skin micro-movements,” potentially allowing users to communicate silently without speaking a word.
This deal also marks a homecoming of sorts for the startup’s leadership. CEO Aviad Maizels and his founding team will join Apple as part of the transition. This is notably the second time Maizels has sold a company to the tech giant; he previously founded PrimeSense, the 3D-sensing firm Apple acquired in 2013 to power Face ID technology.
See also
For months, industry analysts have speculated that aggressive mergers and acquisitions would be Apple’s quickest route to closing the gap in the global AI race. During a July 2025 earnings call, CEO Tim Cook confirmed that Apple remains open to deals that accelerate its internal roadmap. The integration of Q.ai’s talent and tech could eventually pave the way for a fully in-house AI chatbot, reducing Apple’s current reliance on competitors like Google to enhance Siri’s capabilities.
