Apple has disclosed in a regulatory filing with the European Commission that it has entered into an agreement to hire certain employees from the personalized audio startup Huxe AI and to obtain a non-exclusive license to Huxe’s intellectual property. This arrangement, often referred to as a reverse acqui-hire, allows Apple to integrate key talent and technology without fully acquiring the startup.
Huxe, founded by developers with experience in AI-generated podcast features such as NotebookLM (now Gemini Notebook), announced its shutdown on May 21. The company removed its app from Apple and Google stores, ceased service, and deleted user data, stating that the team would not continue product development.
Apple’s filing, made public on June 9, does not specify which employees were offered positions or detail the company’s future plans with the acquired technology. However, the timing suggests Apple may be aiming to bolster its Podcasts app with AI-driven personalized audio features.
This move follows Spotify’s recent introduction of AI-powered podcast generation, indicating growing industry interest in personalized audio content. While tech companies see potential in AI to transform podcast experiences, it remains uncertain how mainstream listeners will respond to these innovations.