A clever theory has just made a connection between one of Apple's largest ever acquisitions in recent memory, that of Q.ai, and the oft-rumored IR-equipped AirPods Pro that might launch as soon as this year.
Apple's acquisition of Q.ai supposedly complements its ambitions of launching IR-equipped AirPods Pro
As we noted recently, Apple has acquired the secretive Israeli AI company, Q.ai, for $2 billion, rendering the transaction one of Apple's priciest ever buyout moves.
For the benefit of those who might not be aware, Q.ai specializes in using machine learning to decipher whispered speech and enhance audio in challenging conditions. The company also focuses on analyzing and interpreting micro facial expressions.
Concurrently, we continue to hear that Apple's next AirPods Pro will be able to perceive their surroundings, presumably via an IR camera, and that too, without a corresponding price bump.
To that end, the prolific Apple-geared analyst, Ming Chi-Kuo, tipped all the way back in 2024 that IR camera-equipped Apple AirPods Pro were in the offing.
Moreover, Apple received a patent in July 2025 for leveraging cameras - akin to the Face ID's dot projector - in proximity detection and 3D depth mapping use cases, which obviously has tantalizing applications for the rumored AirPods Pro.
Now, a neat little theory has made a connection between Apple's acquisition of Q.ai and the rumored IR-equipped AirPods Pro, positing that the IR camera would allow the new AirPods Pro to accurately grasp the user’s silent speech/whispers by analyzing micro facial movements, leveraging Q.ai tech in this process. The theory goes on to enumerate the use-cases for this technology meld:
"This will let the user use voice-to-text in apps like iMessage without speaking out loud, or interact with Siri in a busy train without raising their voice. It will finally end the social stigma around saying "Hey Siri" or taking a phone call in public places."
Beyond AirPods Pro, this technology has profound implications for the Vision Pro and the upcoming Apple Glasses, as well as the rumored AI pin, which would be roughly the size of an AirTag and come equipped with multiple cameras, a speaker, microphones, and wireless charging.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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