Apple has officially entered the artificial intelligence (AI) race by announcing a partnership with OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, to integrate their technology into Apple products.
The announcement, made during the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino, California, also showcased several new AI features developed by Apple.
These moves are intended to help Apple compete with tech giants like Google and Microsoft, who have recently highlighted how AI enhances their phones, laptops, and software.
Alongside Apple’s own AI developments, its devices, including phones, computers, and iPads, will feature ChatGPT integration “later this year.”
This partnership is a significant endorsement of OpenAI’s technology, as it will introduce ChatGPT to millions of Apple users who may not be familiar with or inclined to use it independently.
Apple’s foray into AI highlights the tech industry’s heavy reliance on this technology for the future.
Historically, Apple has emphasized a unique path, focusing on a closed ecosystem centered around its high-end devices, promoting this model as superior for user privacy.
However, the adoption of generative AI signals that even Apple cannot overlook this technological trend.
Apple CEO Tim Cook described the new AI features as “game changers” that would become “indispensable” to its products.
The company introduced AI features under the collective name “Apple Intelligence,” including a text generator for emails and SMS, an image-generating tool compatible with various Apple apps, and an enhanced Siri voice assistant.
Apple claimed its AI tools surpass those of its rivals due to their integration with Apple’s software.
For instance, a user could ask their iPhone to “play the podcast my mom texted me,” and the system would automatically identify and play the correct podcast by accessing the relevant Apple apps on the phone.
“There are already some really impressive chat tools out there,” noted Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, during the presentation. “But these tools know very little about you and your needs.”
Many of the AI features Apple introduced are similar to those Google is incorporating into its Android operating system, such as the capability to edit photo backgrounds to remove unwanted elements.
Apple’s partnership with OpenAI may attract regulatory scrutiny. The company is already facing an antitrust lawsuit from the Justice Department, alleging it holds an unlawful monopoly over smartphones.
Antitrust officials are cautious about tech companies using their substantial financial resources to make deals that might stifle innovation.
Apple’s significant agreement with Google—where the search giant pays for prominent placement of its search engine in Apple’s Safari browser—has been a focal point in the government lawsuit, accusing Google of using this arrangement to edge out competitors.
Source-washingtonpost
