Apple unveiled a long-awaited AI strategy on Monday, integrating “Apple Intelligence” across its suite of apps including Siri, and announced a partnership with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT to its devices.
With these moves, the iPhone maker is seeking to reassure investors that it has not lost the AI battle to Microsoft , even though it may have forfeited a few rounds. Microsoft took an early lead in the race to commercialise AI through its bet on OpenAI. But shares of the iPhone maker were down nearly 2% in afternoon trading as investors sought more AI announcements.
The AI features were unveiled at its Worldwide Developers Conference and Apple also showed its latest operating system for its Vision Pro mixed-reality headset and iPhone.
The company said the new AI features will come with the latest software for its devices and allow users to summarise text and generate other content, such as personalised animations to wish a friend happy birthday.
Apple said the ChatGPT integration would be available later this year and that other AI features will follow, adding that the chatbot could be accessed for free and that users’ information will not be logged.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (L) confers with Apple senior Vice President of Services Eddy Cue during the conference in California. AFP
As part of the updates, a revamped Siri will also tap in to ChatGPT’s expertise and seek permission from users before querying the OpenAI service.
While its AI rivals are targeting enterprises, Apple plans to stand out by making the technology relevant to its more than 1 billion users – most of whom are not tech aficionados.
Apple said iOS 18, the software powering its flagship device, makes the iPhone home screen more customisable and includes improved versions of its in-house apps.
‘Lock an app’ feature
The new software will also come with a “lock an app” feature that will help people protect sensitive information. Users can opt to lock specific apps and keep data more tightly controlled in the OS.
Apple also said it would group messages in its email client starting later this year, categorising them in a primary folder, a transactions folder, a promotions folder and other more specific groupings, for instance communications by an airline. The high-level categorisations are similar to a now-old feature in competitor Google’s Gmail.
Apple said it would make its mixed-reality headset Vision Pro available in eight more countries including China and Japan. The new VisionOS 2 software for the headset will use machine learning to create natural depth photos and come with new gestures.
Apple uses the developer conference at its Cupertino, California, headquarters each year to showcase updates to its own apps and operating systems as well as to show developers new tools they will be able to use in their apps. Apple has been using AI behind the scenes for years to power features on its devices, such as the ability of its watches to detect crashes and falls.
But it has been reluctant to tout how this technology boosts functionality in its devices, as Microsoft has done with the help of its early bet on OpenAI. Microsoft overtook Apple as the world’s biggest company by market capitalisation in January, and Apple’s shares have trailed those of other Big Tech companies this year.
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