System uses artificial intelligence to interpret tiny facial movements associated with forming words, even when no sound is produced
Apple has acquired a company developing technology capable of identifying words even when they are not spoken out loud.
The acquisition of Israeli startup Q.ai was confirmed in January. The company works with artificial intelligence applied to audio and systems capable of recognizing whispered speech and even so-called “silent speech.”
How the Technology Works
The technology draws attention because of how it works. Patents filed by Q.ai describe systems that use optical sensors to detect extremely small movements of the skin and facial muscles as a person articulates words. These signals can be analyzed by artificial intelligence and transformed into speech or commands.
In practice, a person could form a word without having to pronounce it audibly and, under certain conditions, the system would attempt to identify what the person articulated.
The Technology Does Not Mean “Mind Reading”
But there is an important distinction: this does not mean that Apple has developed technology capable of reading thoughts. The system described in the patents depends on physical signals related to the formation of speech. In other words, it is not about freely discovering what someone is thinking.
Q.ai Also Works With Speech Recognition
Q.aihas also conducted research involving speech recognition in very noisy environments and user identification through facial movements. The company has around 100 employees, who joined Apple following the acquisition.
Q.ai Founder Has Already Sold Another Company to Apple
Another detail stands out. Q.ai CEO Aviad Maizels was also one of the founders of PrimeSense, a company acquired by Apple in 2013. The technology developed by PrimeSense played an important role in the evolution of facial recognition systems later used by the company.
Deal Is Valued at $1.6 Billion
Apple did not disclose how much it paid for Q.ai. Reuters reported that the deal was valued at approximately $1.6 billion, while other estimates placed the value close to $2 billion.
Where Apple Could Use the New Technology
There has been no announcement yet that the technology will be used in any specific product. AirPods, iPhone, Vision Pro and future wearable devices have emerged as possibilities discussed by the market, but Apple has not confirmed any of these applications.
