Apple signs recruiting and licensing deal with AI podcast startup Huxe

Apple has struck a deal to hire Huxe employees and license the AI ​​audio startup’s technology, according to a new European Commission filing.

The filing says Apple will have the right to make job offers to certain Huxe employees and receive a non-exclusive license to the company’s intellectual property. It is therefore not a pure and simple acquisition of the company.

Huxe was founded by Raiza Martin, Jason Spielman and Stephen Hughes, former members of the Google NotebookLM team. NotebookLM – since renamed Gemini Notebook – is Google’s AI research tool, best known for its ability to turn documents and other sources into podcast-style audio discussions.

Huxe took a similar approach to personalized listening, as its app generated audio briefings based on users’ emails, calendars and interests, as well as podcasts on topics they wanted to explore. Listeners could interrupt AI hosts to ask questions or request a different explanation.

The startup announced in May that it was winding down operations and said its team was moving forward and development would stop. Its audio service ended on May 28. Apple notified the agreement to the Commission on June 9.

The filing does not specify which employees Apple might recruit, nor does it confirm whether anyone was actually hired.