Apple buys Israeli startup https://t.co/8fyJNY0P0Y as the AI race heats up https://t.co/r3oOKTQz1g ...

In Brief Apple, Meta, and Google are locked in a fierce battle to lead the next wave of AI, and they’ve recently increased their focus on hardware. With its latest acquisition of the AI startup Q.AI, Apple aims to gain an edge, particularly in the audio sector.​As first reported by Reuters, Apple has acquired Q.AI, an Israeli startup specializing in imaging and machine learning, particularly technologies that enable devices to interpret whispered speech and enhance audio in noisy environments. Apple has bee ...

Market Overview - The stock market experienced a sharp pullback, particularly in the software sector, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recovering slightly from their worst levels during the session [1] - Microsoft shares declined by 12%, with management indicating that better allocation of compute resources towards Azure could improve revenue growth [1] - If Microsoft had allocated all new GPUs to Azure, year-over-year cloud revenue growth could have reached 40% instead of the constrained 38% [1] Software Sector Analysis - The decline in Microsoft is part of a broader trend affecting enterprise software as a service (SaaS) companies, with ServiceNow dropping 12% despite better-than-expected results [1] - Salesforce shares fell by approximately 7% following ServiceNow's earnings reaction, indicating a market revaluation of SaaS companies and compressing price-to-earnings multiples [1] - SAP's shares also fell significantly after its cloud backlog increased less than anticipated, reflecting the overall negative sentiment in the software sector [1] Cybersecurity Companies - Cybersecurity firms like CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks saw significant stock declines despite their business models being less affected by AI advancements [1] - The importance of cybersecurity solutions is expected to grow as AI-related threats become more sophisticated, yet both companies trade at high price-to-earnings multiples [1] - CrowdStrike's stock, trading at about $438, is viewed as a potential buying opportunity, while Palo Alto's weakness is also seen as an opportunity [1] Upcoming Earnings Reports - Apple is set to report earnings, with a focus on iPhone demand and management's comments on margins amid rising memory costs [1] - Other companies scheduled to report include SanDisk, Western Digital, Deckers, and Stryker, with American Express, Verizon, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Sofi, Colgate Palmolive, and Air Products & Chemicals reporting before Friday's open [1]

Software Sector Performance - The software sector is experiencing a significant sell-off, with the iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF (IGV) down over 5%, marking a decline not seen since tariff Liberation Day [6] - Major tech indices, including the Nasdaq, are also affected, alongside declines in bitcoin, gold, and silver [6] Microsoft and ServiceNow - Microsoft (MSFT) shares have dropped approximately 12%, potentially marking the seventh-worst decline in its history, despite reporting solid quarterly results [7] - Analysts indicate that the focus has shifted from demand to capacity timing and allocation, with a 66% year-over-year increase in capital expenditures raising investor concerns about the effectiveness of this investment in driving Azure growth [7] - ServiceNow (NOW) has seen a decline of over 10% despite reporting a 21.5% growth in subscription revenue, which analysts believe does not indicate acceleration [8] Other Software Companies - Other companies such as Atlassian (TEAM), Salesforce (CRM), Workday (WDAY), and DataDog (DOG) are also experiencing significant declines [8] Caterpillar's Performance - Caterpillar (CAT) reported fourth-quarter sales of $19.1 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $17.76 billion, with adjusted EPS of $5.16, surpassing the expected $4.71 [9] - The power and energy sales segment increased by 23% to $9.4 billion, with power generation revenue rising 44% to $3.24 billion, driven by demand related to data centers and AI applications [10] Altria and Joby Aviation - Altria (MO) is facing pressure after slightly missing profit estimates in Q4, while targeting mid-single-digit annual dividend-per-share growth through 2028 [11] - Joby Aviation (JOBY) is declining after announcing a $600 million offering of convertible senior notes and selling approximately 52.9 million shares of common stock at $11.35 per share [11] Barry Diller's Interest in CNN - Barry Diller has expressed interest in acquiring CNN and approached Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) regarding a deal last year, although no serious action was taken on his approach [12][13]

Apple Inc. has bought Israeli startup Q.ai in a deal estimated to be worth $2 billion, according to a report in the "Financial Times". The newspaper’s sources said that this was Apple’s second-biggest acquisition. The companies have not, however, officially disclosed details of the deal. Up to now, Q.ai has operated away from the limelight. It has developed artificial intelligence technology for analyzing and enriching communications and imaging experiences. According to the reports, the company develops ...

Core Insights - Apple Inc. has acquired Israeli AI startup Q.ai, which specializes in technology for interpreting facial movements and silent communication [1][2] - The acquisition is valued at approximately $2 billion, marking a significant move for Apple in recent times [2] - Q.ai's technology could enhance Apple's audio products and AI features, including Siri and AirPods [1][3] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition price has not been officially disclosed, but it is estimated to be close to $2 billion [2] - Q.ai was co-founded by Aviad Maizels, who previously contributed to the development of Face ID technology at Apple [1][2] - Johny Srouji, overseeing Apple's custom silicon chips, expressed excitement about the innovative potential of Q.ai's technology [2] Group 2: Technology Applications - Q.ai's technology can analyze facial muscle movements to understand silent communication, which could enhance user interaction with devices [2][3] - The technology is expected to improve audio capabilities in devices like AirPods, which are anticipated to evolve into more powerful AI hardware [3] - Potential applications include enhancements for FaceTime, smart glasses, and headsets, indicating a broader impact on Apple's product ecosystem [3][4] Group 3: Company Vision - Aviad Maizels highlighted the unique combination of advanced machine learning and physics in Q.ai's technology, emphasizing the potential for innovation within Apple [4] - The integration into Apple is seen as an opportunity to push technological boundaries and enhance user experiences globally [4]

Apple CEO Tim Cook joins Apple employees at the Apple store as customers line up for the release of Apple new iPhone 17 models in New York on Sept. 19, 2025.Apple has acquired Israeli artificial intelligence startup Q.ai, a company representative confirmed on Thursday. No purchase price was disclosed.Q.ai was secretive and had not publicly shared a product, but its website suggests it was working on something related to audio. The startup was led by CEO Aviad Maizels, who previously sold PrimeSense to Apple ...

Apple has acquired Israel-based artificial intelligence startup https://t.co/el74W3TQXj, which develops technology for reading facial movements and understanding silent communication https://t.co/sC0shgb9s3 ...

This live blog is refreshed periodically throughout the day with the latest updates from the market.To find the latest Stock Market Today threads, click here. Happy Thursday. This is TheStreet’s Stock Market Today for Jan. 29, 2026. You can follow the latest updates on the market here in our daily live blog. Update: 4:35 p.m. ET Apple Earnings Are In Apple's earnings have landed. Here are the details: Revenue: $143.756 billion, +16% (est. $138.48 billion) iPhone Revenue: $85.269 billion (estimates wer ...

Oh, it looks so good. It's like a little mirror. Look at yourself.Aren't you pretty. Let's unbox something that looks exactly like the old something. The new Air Tag 2.$29, baby. The box is a little smaller than the last box, but who remembers that. So delicate.And then you yank it. I have here the old one. It looks like the new one.The difference is that some of the words on the new one are all capitalized. But what do you get new. Well, you can track it further.And the little beep chimes are twice as loud ...