Apple is reported to be pouring substantial resources, estimated to spend “millions of dollars per day” into the development of artificial intelligence, according to a recent report by The Information. This report suggests that Apple is poised to disrupt the AI landscape with a comprehensive array of groundbreaking innovations.
At the forefront of Apple’s AI research is its “Foundational Models” unit, primarily focused on conversational AI. And in addition to Foundational Models, other specialized teams at Apple are hard at work expanding the horizons of AI. One notable team, the “Visual Intelligence” unit, is dedicated to developing an image generation model. Another group is diligently researching “multimodal AI,” a versatile technology capable of recognizing and producing text, images, and videos.
The Problem Inside Apple:
Yeah, we said that Apple is working on Coversational AI, but don’t get too excited. There are approximately 16 members on the “Foundational Models” team (which includes former Google engineers) which is led directly by Apple’s head of Machine Learning and
AI Strategy, but however, John Giannandrea, who transitioned from Google to Apple in 2018 in order to enhance Siri’s capabilities, despite his deep expertise in AI, has reportedly shown skepticism to colleagues about the potential utility of chatbots driven by AI language models.
Giannandrea is reportedly concerned that the technology hasn’t advanced far enough for useful applications, and that the focus on AI should be on more practical tasks, such as improving search results and photo recognition. He has even gone so far as to suggest that the company should focus more on the practical applications of AI rather than chatbots, and it has been rumored that the AI team at Apple has lost all hope of getting Siri right under the management of Giannandrea. However, we guess he might have changed his priorities, not because he changed his mind, but because of Apple’s situation and management.
Apple’s Secret Weapon:
Among the projects in development is a chatbot intended to enhance interactions with customers using AppleCare services. Another ambitious undertaking seeks to automate intricate multistep tasks through Siri, streamlining user experiences. And there’s one particularly eye-catching finding from insiders involved in these projects. It’s Apple’s crown jewel: “Ajax GPT,” its most advanced Language Model (LLM).
Boasting training on a staggering “more than 200 billion parameters,” Ajax GPT is positioned as more powerful than OpenAI’s GPT-3.5, the foundational technology behind the initial ChatGPT release last year. Interestingly, Ajax GPT was initially conceived for internal use, as reported by Bloomberg, and has remained shrouded in secrecy within the company.
Tim Cook’s Take on Language Models:
Back in June, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged his use of ChatGPT and expressed enthusiasm for its “unique applications.” In an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, Cook emphasized the potential of large language models like ChatGPT while recognizing their risks, such as bias and misinformation. Cook also discussed the need for regulation and ethical considerations in AI development, acknowledging the rapid pace of technological advancement. These statements were after Apple’s annual developer conference, WWDC, where the company showcased new applications of machine learning for its products, highlighting the importance of machine-learning and what it generates for the user in Apple’s future.
Will Apple Meet the Deadline?”
As we stand witness to these extraordinary revelations, it becomes abundantly clear that Apple’s fervent dedication to the development of artificial intelligence heralds a transformative era in the history of technological progress. With its formidable investments and the enigmatic “Ajax GPT” leading the charge, Apple steps resolutely toward shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
Apple’s investments and efforts in AI show its intent to shape the future of AI-powered technologies, challenging competitors and redefining industry standards.
