# Apple hires Huxe team, licenses podcast AI tech

> Apple disclosed a reverse acqui-hire deal with personalized podcast startup Huxe, bringing on staff and licensing technology after the startup shut down.
- Title: Apple hires Huxe team, licenses podcast AI tech · TechCrunch
- Summary: Apple disclosed a reverse acqui-hire deal with personalized podcast startup Huxe, bringing on staff and licensing technology after the startup shut down…
- Keywords: apple, huxe, reverse acqui-hire, podcast technology, personalized audio, technology, startups, hires, team, licenses, podcast, tech
- Source: TechCrunch — https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/10/apple-discloses-deal-to-hire-team-and-license-tech-from-personalized-podcast-startup-huxe
- Author: Anthony Ha
- Published: 2026-10-10T19:50:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: apple, huxe, reverse acqui-hire, podcast technology, ai, personalized audio, technology, startups
## Apple brings Huxe team on board
Apple disclosed in a regulatory filing that it has reached an agreement to hire employees and license technology from personalized audio startup Huxe in a reverse acqui-hire deal.
## What Apple is getting from Huxe
Apple agreed to make employment offers to certain employees of Huxe AI and to receive a non-exclusive license to Huxe's intellectual property rights, as disclosed to the European Commission.
## Why reverse acqui-hires matter
Reverse acqui-hires let larger companies hire key team members and license technology from startups without acquiring them outright, potentially building AI talent while drawing less antitrust scrutiny.
## Huxe's AI podcast background
Huxe was founded by developers who previously worked on AI-generated podcast features in NotebookLM, recently renamed Gemini Notebook, before the startup announced its shutdown on May twenty-first.

> The team is moving on to new things, and we won't be continuing development of the product.
## Apple's timing and next steps unclear
Apple notified the European Commission of the deal on June ninth, shortly after Huxe's shutdown. The filing does not disclose who received employment offers or Apple's plans for the technology.
## Podcast AI features could be next
Huxe shut down one day after Spotify unveiled AI-powered podcast generation features. Apple may be hoping to add similar functionality to its Podcasts app using the licensed technology.
## Key takeaway

Apple hired Huxe employees and licensed their podcast personalization technology in a reverse acqui-hire deal disclosed to the European Commission.