Apple’s AI Renaissance: A Peek into Siri’s Evolution
October 27, 2023
In the whirlwind world of tech, there’s never a dull moment. Especially when you’re talking about a titan like Apple. Recently, rumblings about Apple’s advancements in the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) have surfaced, and it seems the industry giant is about to embark on an exciting new chapter.
Apple’s New AI Frontier
While Apple has traditionally been quieter in the AI arena compared to its counterparts like Meta, Microsoft, and Google, the tech giant is now gearing up to set the stage alight with its advancements in Siri. Apple Senior Vice Presidents John Giannandrea and Craig Federighi, the brains behind AI and software engineering respectively, are spearheading this new AI mission. According to Bloomberg, Giannandrea’s team is in the midst of devising new AI systems. The goal? A smarter Siri that’s adept with these newfound capabilities. This revamped Siri is set to make her debut possibly next year, although a precise timeline remains nebulous.
Bridging the Software Gap
But it isn’t just Siri that’s getting an upgrade. Federighi’s squadron is hard at work infusing AI into the subsequent versions of iOS. This should massively augment both Siri’s response mechanism and the auto-completion functionalities in the Messages app.
One of the burning questions at the heart of Apple’s AI developments, however, revolves around the dilemma of choosing between “on-device” or “cloud-based” AI. Bloomberg cites that while an on-device AI promises faster, more private user experiences, a cloud-based system might be more potent, granting AI expansive access to data, facilitating its learning and development.
Behind the Scenes: Apple’s AI Struggles and Achievements
Despite the ongoing buzz, Apple hasn’t been the most vocal about its AI ambitions. Last summer’s Worldwide Developers Conference was notably void of any mention of “AI.” This apparent silence, however, doesn’t signify inaction. As CEO Tim Cook revealed to Reuters in August, Apple has been dipping its toes in a vast pool of AI technologies, including generative AI, for years.
Perhaps most intriguing is the unveiling of Apple’s AI model named “Ajax.” This model is reported to be the backbone of an internal chatbot affectionately dubbed “Apple GPT” by insiders. This revelation, disclosed by Bloomberg in July, carries even more weight when you consider that Ajax was trained on “more than 200 billion parameters,” surpassing even the capabilities of OpenAI’s renowned GPT-3.5.
A Hardware Giant with an AI Vision
While Apple’s initial approach to AI may have seemed subtle, it’s essential to recognize its core identity as a hardware-centric company. The majority of Apple’s staggering $81.8 billion in sales in the third quarter emanated from its hardware segment. However, the increasing focus and investment in AI research underscore its commitment to innovation on all fronts.
In summary, while Apple might have entered the AI arena a tad quietly, it’s evident that they’re now poised to make significant waves. With a legacy of breaking boundaries and setting new standards, the tech community awaits Apple’s next move with bated breath. The Siri of the future beckons, and she promises to be smarter than ever.
Original Article: https://www.businessinsider.com/smarter-siri-ai-messages-apple-iphone-ipad-mac-homepod-2023-10
Photo by Omid Armin from Unsplash