New Delhi, Jan. 30 -- Apple's acquisition of Israeli audio AI startup Q.ai is not just another tuck-in deal; it points to a deeper shift in how the company is thinking about human-device interaction in an AI-first era.

Announced on January 29, Apple confirmed it had acquired Q.ai, an Israel-based artificial intelligence company focused on audio and machine learning. While Apple did not disclose financial terms, Reuters cited a source familiar with the matter who pegged the deal at approximately $1.6 billion, making it one of Apple's more significant AI acquisitions in recent years.

What stands out is not the price tag but the problem Apple appears to be solving.

According to Reuters, Q.ai has been working on machine learning applicatio...