Apple has just confirmed its acquisition of Q.ai, an Israeli AI startup focused on audio and "silent speech". $RENDER
The acquisition was announced in late January 2026 (around the 29th-30th), and it is the second largest in Apple's history, only behind Beats (2014, for $3.000M).
Estimated value: Sources like Financial Times, Reuters, and TechCrunch point to around $2.000 billion (some reports vary between $1.6B and $2B; Apple did not disclose the official amount).
What Q.ai does: AI technology that analyzes micro-facial movements (lips, jaw, skin) to interpret what someone "says" without audible sound. It also enhances audio in noise, translates whispers, and could monitor subtle vital signs. Founded in 2022 by Aviad Maizels (who previously sold PrimeSense to Apple in 2013 for Face ID), with ~100 employees who are now joining Apple.
Impact on products: It will enhance Siri (private/silent commands), AirPods (better noise cancellation, interaction in noisy environments), Apple Vision Pro, and future wearables/smart glasses, all with on-device AI for maximum privacy. It is a strong move from Apple to accelerate in AI applied to hardware, competing with Meta, Google, and others in more natural and "invisible" interfaces.
