Apple has acquired the Israeli AI startup Q.ai for nearly $2 billion, marking its second-largest acquisition after Beats Electronics. Q.ai specializes in imaging and machine learning, focusing on technologies that enhance audio by interpreting whispered speech and filtering out background noise. This aligns with Apple's efforts to improve its AirPods, which now feature live translation capabilities. CEO Aviad Maizels has sold two companies to Apple, highlighting a strong relationship. His previous venture, PrimeSense, was instrumental in shifting Apple from fingerprint sensors to facial recognition. The acquisition comes as Apple prepares to announce quarterly earnings, with expectations of around $138 billion in revenue and significant growth in iPhone sales. This move signals Apple’s intensified competition with other tech giants like Meta and Google, particularly in the hardware and AI sectors. Q.ai launched in 2022 and is backed by notable investors like Kleiner Perkins and GV, alongside its founding team, which will join Apple post-acquisition. The deal not only boosts Apple's AI capabilities but also strengthens its position in the audio technology market.