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VocalQ
VocalIQ was a Cambridge-based voice AI start-up developing adaptive, learning-based spoken language systems. It was acquired in 2015 by Apple to strengthen its conversational interface technology.
About
VocalIQ was a Cambridge-based AI start-up spun out from the University of Cambridge’s Spoken Dialogue Systems Group. The company specialised in advanced voice interfaces, combining expertise in speech recognition, natural language understanding, dialogue design, and speech synthesis to create intelligent, adaptive spoken language systems.
VocalIQ developed customisable voice-based interfaces for a wide range of applications—from smartphones and in-car systems to call centres, robots, and games. Its platform stood out for its ability to learn from real-world conversations, improving accuracy and context awareness over time—making interactions feel more natural and less scripted than conventional voice assistants.
The company’s technology attracted significant interest in the fast-growing voice AI space, and in September 2015, VocalIQ was acquired by Apple. The acquisition was seen as a strategic move to enhance Apple’s voice capabilities, contributing to the advancement of Siri and laying foundations for more human-like conversational AI.
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