Earlier quoted context omitted.
Hence the name, I assume.
and very expensive domain.
The website looks expensive as well. /s
Apple buys Israeli startup Q.ai
51–58 of 58 posts
Re: Apple buys Israeli startup Q.ai
#52This story has Apple + $2B acquisition + AI ...how is this not at the top of the page?
It's pretty crazy it's Apple's second-largest acquisition ever but it's kinda boring so nobody cares. Of course, Beats was a household name and founded by Dre... a much more accessible story
TBF this ‘startup’ has a somewhat vague product. I read the article and couldn’t come up with a reason for the $2B valuation, what are we missing here?
Re: Apple buys Israeli startup Q.ai
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's pretty crazy it's Apple's second-largest acquisition ever but it's kinda boring so nobody cares. Of course, Beats was a household name and founded by Dre... a much more accessible story
TBF this ‘startup’ has a somewhat vague product. I read the article and couldn’t come up with a reason for the $2B valuation, what are we missing here?
> I read the article and couldn’t come up with a reason for the $2B valuation
I think the potential applications in military-grade spyware explain the valuation.
Oh, you mean what are we missing as far as this software meriting that valuation for consumer-friendly uses?
Re: Apple buys Israeli startup Q.ai
#54Re: Apple buys Israeli startup Q.ai
#55Re: Apple buys Israeli startup Q.ai
#56Earlier quoted context omitted.
[puts on tin foil] you mean something that improves the detection and transcription of voices when the person doesn't realize the mic is on, like when it's in our pocket?
I have a child who had an individualized education program due to a disability. I recorded many meetings with an iPhone in my front pocket while sitting. Crystal clear audio every time. The new tech is likely just for noisy environments and/or to enable whispered voice control of the phone.
This isn't about capturing the audio, it is about transcribing it. Transcribing whispered/garbled speech in the background is really really really hard.
Re: Apple buys Israeli startup Q.ai
#57Could Q.ai be commercializing the AlterEgo tech coming out of MIT Lab? i.e. "detects faint neuromuscular signals in the face and throat when a person internally verbalizes words" Yep, looks like that is it. Recent patent from one of the founders: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&h...
If this works well, then I could finally see that AI wearable pins could be socially feasible. IMO speaking aloud in public to AI doesn't seem like something which will work but it is also what OpenAI is apparently investing a lot into with their hardware ambition with Jony Ive [0].
[0] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-21/openai-to...
Re: Apple buys Israeli startup Q.ai
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have a child who had an individualized education program due to a disability. I recorded many meetings with an iPhone in my front pocket while sitting. Crystal clear audio every time. The new tech is likely just for noisy environments and/or to enable whispered voice control of the phone.
This isn't about capturing the audio, it is about transcribing it. Transcribing whispered/garbled speech in the background is really really really hard.
I agree, being able to transcribe low quality audio would be an amazing new feature. What I was disputing was the notion that even an old iPhone is incapable of capturing crystal clear audio from an entire room while in your pocket. It has been able to do that forever.