Growing Competition in the Artificial Intelligence Market; Apple Acquires Q.ai Startup

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By BlackWhaleDevFebruary 18, 2026

Apple has acquired the Q.ai startup in a major deal to compete with Google and Meta in the field of artificial intelligence.

Apple, Meta, and Google have entered an intense competition to lead the next wave of AI. With a strong focus on this field, Apple has acquired the Q.ai startup. This startup specifically operates in speech processing and audio enhancement in noisy environments.

The Israeli startup Q.ai also specializes in image processing and machine learning, and its technology enables devices to recognize whispered speech. Apple had previously added features such as live translation to its AirPods to enhance the audio experience for users.

Minor facial muscle activity detection technology is another achievement of Q.ai, which can improve the performance of the Vision Pro headset. This technology enhances the user experience in augmented and virtual reality environments.

According to a Financial Times report, the value of Apple’s agreement with Q.ai is estimated at nearly $2 billion, making it the second-largest acquisition in Apple’s history after the purchase of Beats Electronics. The mentioned startup was founded in 2022.

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