Sometimes when one company acquires another, we see both make formal announcements about the news. In some cases, though, we don't hear about it until months later, like may have happened with a recent Google acquisition.
Google has acquired a U.K. company called Redux. It's unclear exactly when the deal was made, but reports say it may have happened all the way back in August 2017.
As for what Redux did, the company developed technology to turn device displays into speakers. Redux's website is no longer online, but you can pull up an archived version to learn a bit more about it. Redux describes its Panel Audio tech by saying, "Redux actuators deliver naturalistic wide-frequency-range audio from a panel or display (without micro-speakers and apertures) – providing a versatile and robust overall solution."
Being able to use a mobile device's screen as a speaker could be pretty appealing for a phone maker. It could eliminate the need for a speaker on the outer part of the device, resulting in a cleaner look that could also help to make your phone's bezels slimmer. The tech could also clear up more space on the inside of a device, making more room for a bigger battery or other components.
It's unclear when we might see Google release any devices with Redux's technology, but it's possible that future Pixel products could include it.