• Deal valued at around $1.6 billion

• Specialized in voice-based artificial intelligence

Apple announced its acquisition of Q.ai, a startup in the occupied territories focused on developing voice AI technologies.

Apple did not disclose financial details of the deal, though sources said the startup is valued at approximately $1.6 billion.

The company has not yet specified how it will use Q.ai’s technology, but noted that the startup has developed applications to help devices understand whispered speech and improve audio quality in challenging environments.

Last year, Q.ai filed a patent application for a technology that uses “micro-movements of facial skin” to detect spoken or mouthed words, identify individuals, and assess emotions, heart rate, breathing, and other indicators.

Apple continues to integrate AI features into its AirPods, having introduced last year technology that allows direct speech translation between languages.