Updated Oct. 21, 2026, 3:30 a.m. ET: Adds Apple's Samplab asset deal, disclosed in the EU's Digital Markets Act database on Oct. 19.

Apple has agreed to hire staff from Huxe, an AI audio startup founded by former Google NotebookLM team members, and to license its technology, according to a European Commission filing that MacRumors reported on Friday, Oct. 9.

Apple Signs Hiring and Licensing Deal With Huxe, the AI Audio Startup From Ex-NotebookLM Leaders

The filing, published in the EU's Digital Markets Act transparency database, says Apple "will have the right to make employment offers to and hire certain employees of Huxe AI, Inc." and receive "a non-exclusive license to Huxe's intellectual property rights." It describes Huxe in one line: "Huxe provides a mobile application that creates personalized audio content." Apple notified the Commission on June 9. No financial terms were disclosed, and the filing doesn't say which employees Apple could recruit or whether anyone has been hired.

It is not an outright acquisition. 9to5Mac called it an acqui-hire and said it is at least the fourth AI-related deal Apple has disclosed this year.