The electronics giant Apple, which is renowned for its sleek devices and approachable software, has been involved in artificial intelligence (AI) for a while. However, in contrast to its competitors, Apple has adopted a trademark quiet approach to AI, advancing the technology bit by little and incorporating intelligence into its products without making a big splash. But recent hiring announcements and acquisitions point to a change in approach and a more significant AI effort in the works.
Acquisitions Point to a Focus on On-Device AI:
Apple has been steadily but quietly expanding its AI acquisitions. More AI startups have been bought by the business since 2017 than by Google and Microsoft put together. These acquisitions include an extensive range of AI applications, such as machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing (NLP).
WaveOne, a business that specializes in AI-powered video compression, is one significant acquisition. This shows that Apple is interested in enhancing the video processing power of iPhones and other devices, possibly for use in real-time video editing apps or augmented reality. Comparably, Apple’s acquisition of Xnor.ai, a business creating AI chips with low power consumption, suggests that the company is concentrating on on-device AI processing to lessen its dependency on cloud computing and possibly enhance privacy and performance.
Job Postings Reveal the Scope of Apple’s AI Ambitions:
Apple’s job advertisements reveal more than just acquisitions. Over 40% of vacant posts include AI in some way, indicating that the organization has greatly increased its recruiting of AI specialists. Notably, a lot of job listings center on on-device natural language processing and machine learning. There are positions for engineers that work on voice recognition, Siri enhancement, and customized suggestions.
Apple’s long-standing commitment to customer privacy and data security is in line with their concentration on on-device AI. Potentially, Apple can get around the privacy issues with cloud-based AI solutions by processing data directly on devices. Moreover, on-device AI can make performance faster and more responsive, especially for real-time apps like augmented reality and Siri.
Siri: Apple AI’s Next Big Thing?
Apple’s virtual assistant, Siri, has frequently come under fire for its drawbacks when compared to rivals like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. But Apple’s latest AI initiative points to a renewed emphasis on Siri’s potential. Improvements in context awareness, proactive support, and natural language understanding are mentioned in job ads for Siri engineers.
To increase Siri’s accuracy and responsiveness, on-device AI may be included into a future version of the software. Apple may also be able to better grasp user intent and personalize responses from Siri thanks to its advances in machine learning and natural language processing (NLP). This would make Siri a more useful and interesting assistant.
Conclusion:
Although Apple’s AI goals are still unknown, the company’s recent acquisitions and job posts provide some insight into what it has in store. The emphasis on improving Siri, NLP, and on-device AI points to a dedication to user privacy, performance, and a more customized user experience.
It remains to be seen if Apple’s AI push will revolutionize the industry or if it is just a subdued extension of its current initiatives. But one thing is certain: Apple isn’t going to stay in the AI chasing game any longer. The business is gently establishing the stage for a time when artificial intelligence is seamlessly integrated into its products, potentially revolutionizing the user experience and challenging the supremacy of its rivals.
