Apple has announced the acquisition of Israeli startup company Q, which develops applications in the field of artificial intelligence. The deal is valued at $1.5 billion, making the startup the second-largest acquisition in Apple history.
Q is designed to transform the audio and communication experience, including technology that allows whispering and improved audio in challenging environments.
One of the founders and CEO of Q is Aviad Meisels, who sold his startup PrimeSense to Apple in 2013.
The co-founders are Jonathan Wexler, who was a top manager at Orcam, and Avi Berlia. Over the years of its existence, the company has mobilized several tens of millions of dollars.
Among its investors you can find the Israeli venture fund Aleph, Corner Ventures, Exor, Kleiner Perkins, Samsung funds.
This is Apple’s third significant acquisition in Israel in years. It acquired Anobit for $500 million in 2011 and PrimeSense for $360 million in 2013, which formed the basis of its development center in Israel. Since then, it has made several other small acquisitions. Currently, Apple has several thousand employees in Israel developing technologies in the field of chips, cameras and sensors.