A lot has been written about Apple and its ChatGPT-like product. The iPhone maker is reportedly investing billions to make “Apple GPT” occur, with generative AI options anticipated to be a part of the iOS 18 replace coming subsequent yr.
We have already got an concept of what Apple is engaged on when it comes to getting generative AI options prepared for iPhone 16. However nothing is official, and there are not any ensures that we’ll get Apple GPT subsequent yr.
In contrast to Microsoft and Google, Apple has been tight-lipped about generative AI to date. Apple is attempting to maintain the whole lot a secret in a world that may’t cease speaking about AI merchandise like ChatGPT.
Nevertheless, Tim Cook dinner’s latest feedback make me hopeful about getting a local ChatGPT-like expertise on next-generation iPhones. Apple’s CEO mentioned throughout Apple’s earnings name on Thursday that AI know-how is “elementary” for the corporate and that Apple is “investing fairly a bit” in generative AI.
Apple addressing the iPhone’s AI options is progress
In contrast to its rivals, Apple didn’t have ready remarks about generative AI, nevertheless it was in all probability able to subject questions on its plans. These questions got here throughout the Q&A session with analysts and buyers as a part of Apple’s earnings name for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023 (the September 2023 quarter).
Tim Cook dinner reminded these in attendance that Apple already employs synthetic intelligence (AI) and machine studying (ML) in its merchandise, together with iOS 17, the latest iPhone working system. Solely Apple doesn’t point out the AI half as a lot publicly. Right here how Cook dinner answered, per MacRumors:
If you happen to zoom out and take a look at what we’ve executed with AI and machine studying and the way we’ve used it, these are elementary know-how integral to each product we ship.
After we shipped iOS 17, it included options like Private Voice and Stay Voicemail. AI is on the coronary heart of those options. You may go all the way in which to the life-saving options on the watch and cellphone, like Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and ECG on the watch. These wouldn’t be potential with out AI. We don’t label them as such, as a result of we labeled them as to what their shopper profit is, however the elementary tech behind it’s AI and machine studying.
Apple hasn’t used the time period AI in its press occasions this yr, selecting to deal with ML as an alternative. That’s actually unusual for a corporation that makes use of advertising and marketing names for each new function it invents for the iPhone. Additionally, the AI options Cook dinner referenced will not be precisely the generative options I would like from the iPhone. I’m in search of ChatGPT-like powers for Siri, and Siri is way from having the ability to ship that.
Fortunately, Cook dinner addressed generative AI in what adopted:
By way of generative AI, we clearly have work happening. I’m not going to get into element about it as a result of we actually don’t do this, however you’ll be able to wager we’re investing. We’re investing fairly a bit. We’re going to do it responsibly. You will notice product developments over time, and people applied sciences are on the coronary heart of it.
Apple can’t afford to take a seat out for too lengthy
That’s in all probability the most effective affirmation you will get from Apple that it’s engaged on a ChatGPT-like product of its personal. Nonetheless, it’s nice to see Cook dinner & Co. addressing generative AI in such a fashion.
As MarketWatch factors out, Apple’s mentions of AI rose from 5 within the earlier earnings name to 9 within the one on Thursday. However all got here throughout the Q&A periods.
Comparatively, Microsoft and Alphabet talked about AI dozens of instances of their earnings name. That’s 57 and 75 instances, respectively, for his or her newest quarters. It’s down from 73 and 90, respectively, however nonetheless fairly important.
Apple is much more tempered in the case of speaking about unreleased merchandise and the tech it’s growing. There’s additionally the well-known “Apple manner” of doing issues. Which means bringing new applied sciences to the market when it thinks they’re prepared.
Apple isn’t at all times first, selecting to excellent new options earlier than releasing them. That’s why 5G took longer to occur on iPhone. Or why it didn’t launch 120Hz iPhones till a lot later than the competitors.
Apple will definitely not be the primary to supply generative AI experiences. And if rumors are correct, it may not be the primary to offer on-device private AI on a cellphone. The Galaxy S24 may beat the iPhone 16 to that. However Apple in all probability can’t afford to attend too lengthy till Apple GPT comes out. Not when everybody else is placing generative AI options into their merchandise.
With all that in thoughts, I can’t wait to see what kind of generative AI expertise we will count on from iOS 18, and particularly the iPhone 16. The identical goes for visionOS and the Imaginative and prescient Professional.
