Apple Acquires AI startup Q.AI for $2 Billion

Apple is kicking off the new year with a big AI acquisition. The Financial Times is reporting that the company spent close to $2 billion to acquire Q.AI, an Israeli startup working on technology to improve human communication “without saying a word.”

The official website of Q.AI doesn’t say much about the company, but its open roles page features the text from the classic “Here’s to the crazy ones” ad narrated by Steve Jobs. This page also shows that the startup is looking to hire an electro-optical engineer, an Experimental Physicist, and multiple AI/ML algorithm developers.

One of the founders of Q.AI is Aviad Maizels, who was previously part of the PrimeSense team, another startup Apple acquired back in 2013 for its 3D sensing technology. In a statement shared with Reuters, Maizels said that “joining Apple opens extraordinary possibilities for pushing boundaries and realizing the full potential of what we’ve created, and we’re thrilled to bring these experiences to people everywhere.”

Apple separately confirmed the acquisition via a statement from Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies. “Q is an exceptional company, pioneering new and creative ways to use imaging and machine learning technologies. We are excited to acquire the company led by Aviad and even more excited about what lies ahead,” the exec said.

Apple CEO Tim Cook previously said that the company was “very open to M&A that accelerates our roadmap,” and here we are. Apple’s last big acquisition was over 10 years ago, when the company spent 3.2 billion in 2014 for Beats Music & Beats Electronics.