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On Sun, 20 Oct, 4:01 PM UTC
14 Sources
[1]
Apple Intelligence is 2 years behind the competition, according to Gurman, but there is something in which it has a great advantage - Softonic
Even before the launch of Apple Intelligence, there were rumors that Apple might be somewhat behind in the development of artificial intelligence. Now, Mark Gurman claims that, according to some employees within the company, Apple's artificial intelligence technology is about two years behind that of other companies, such as OpenAI or Google. However, what might seem like a weak point in Apple's strategy hides an advantage that could give it a strong position in the future: its ability to integrate AI into its device ecosystem. Apple introduced its set of artificial intelligence features, Apple Intelligence, at the opening conference of WWDC 2024. It was the company's first public step into the current AI boom, and while it showcased interesting tools such as AI-generated notification summaries, an enhanced Siri with personal context, and others like Image Playground and Genmoji, not all features were going to be released at the same time. Apple's AI solutions focus on models that run directly on devices, which requires powerful hardware (A17, M1 or higher, with at least 8GB of RAM), but at the same time limits their capability compared to cloud-based services. Aware that local processing would not be sufficient at all times, Apple made a decision that marks a key difference: a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT throughout the operating system. This integration allows us to access OpenAI's language models, such as GPT-4o, directly from Siri or through writing tools (and later from all image tools). According to Apple's internal studies cited by Gurman, ChatGPT is about 25% more accurate than Siri and can answer 30% more questions. Despite the challenges, Apple has an ace up its sleeve: the omnipresence of its AI in the Apple ecosystem. Unlike other companies that offer AI solutions as separate products or services, Apple's strategy is fully integrated into its operating system, and therefore, in all our devices. This deep integration in hardware and software allows Apple to maximize the performance and efficiency of its AI models, optimizing them for very specific and customized tasks, such as notification management, image recognition, or personalizing responses through Siri. In its current state, the key to AI is its utility. Between a very powerful model that requires the use of a dedicated app or a somewhat more modest model that can, for example, automatically create a memory in Photos or improve search, the choice for many is clear. Utility comes through availability and integration. According to Gurman, Apple's future vision involves making Apple Intelligence available on all devices with a screen by 2026. This includes everything from the iPhone SE, which will receive the A18 chip in 2025, to all new iPads and Macs. It is true that Apple seems to be somewhat behind in AI, but the company's ability to completely change a market or industry is well known, even though they are almost never the first to arrive. According to Gurman himself, Apple will probably do the same with AI, whether through internal development, hiring experts, or acquiring leading companies in the field, Apple Intelligence will change the game.
[2]
Tim Cook Knows Apple Isn't First in AI but Says 'It's About Being the Best'
Apple reportedly conducted internal studies showing Apple Intelligence is two years behind ChatGPT. Ricky Bobby from the 2006 film Talladega Nights would find Apple’s belated rollout of Apple Intelligence a sure sign of failure. “If you ain’t first, you’re last,†he'd say to Apple CEO Tim Cook. In the meantime, Cook is aware that his company isn’t going to have AI first, but the longer the CEO said it takes toâ€"ahemâ€"cook Apple Intelligence, the more savory a treat it will eventually be. Compared to the competition on Android, the initial rollout expected Oct. 28 will be barebones. Google’s Gemini already has AI-generated text and summarization capabilities, and the AI image generation from Apple’s Image Playground andâ€"most importantlyâ€"the Siri integration that can work between apps on users’ behalf don’t have an official launch date. Hints from Bloomberg’s Apple guru Mark Gurman mention we could see these features in a few months, though in all likelihood, a better Siri won’t arrive until 2025. “We weren’t the first to do intelligence,†Cook told The Wall Street Journal in an interview Monday. “But we’ve done it in a way that we think is the best for the customer.†We have yet to test out Apple Intelligence in all its true glory. ChatGPT and Gemini are already prolific, and we’ve seen a few of their ups alongside their many downs. However, as Apple integrates its AI, there are already troubling signs. Gurman wrote in his latest Power On newsletter that, internally, Apple believes its AI “is more than two years behind the industry leaders.†An internal study found that Siri was 25% less accurate than ChatGPT. According to the Bloomberg writer, OpenAI’s chatbot could answer 30% more questions. Apple intends to integrate ChatGPT onto users’ iPhones (or at least all the iPhone 16s, the iPhone 15 Pro, and the latest iPads, including the 2024 Air, Pro, and upcoming iPad mini). It will be restricted behind Apple’s security apparatus, and users will need to grant permission before using any of its touted generative features. Apple may not need to be first. Bringing up the rear has its advantages. You can see how other companies fail and then tailor your software for the better. Even then, the initial rollout will seem like deja vu. You can already access the initial first instance of Apple Intelligence through the iOS 18.1 beta. In a nutshell, AI features like Writing Tools let you highlight text to either proofread, rewrite, or summarize with an AI. Other initial Apple Intelligence features include a “priority notifications†capability to put your most pressing notifications, like important meetings or texts, closest to the top. The AI can also summarize the transcripts in Notes or from phone calls. Just how useful are text summaries? Cook says he’s been using them recently for his emails, saving him time “here and there.†If it saves you a few minutes each day, then perhaps it might save you a few hours or days over a month. I might ask why I would write a long, detailed email if I know my boss isn't going to read it. Still, for the Apple CEO, he claims, “It’s changed my life.†As somebody who has used AI in various capacities over the past two years, I have a much different outlook. Text summaries can occasionally be helpful, but as a journalist, I find the important bits lie in the details. I can’t ask AI to skim product briefs for the next iPad I’m reviewing in case it misses something. I might ask an AI to find out the specs of an old iPhone for a feature I'm working on, but I still have to double-check its work because AI may get it wrong, and you're never quite sure where it's pulling the data from. The less I need to say about AI-generated text, the better. Still, Apple’s CEO told WSJ that AI would make users’ time on the phone “profoundly different.†He believes it will change how users operate their phones. Apple has had major misses. Remember the butterfly keyboards? It’s like any other major company that’s been around for the past 50 years. Sometimes, it messes up, but Apple’s unique in never acknowledging those failures. In the interview, Cook is presented as having a positive outlook. He said the company is not “running to get something out firstâ€| If you talk to 100 people, 100 of them would tell you: It’s about being the best.†The interview doesn’t examine the CEO’s reasoning too critically. Cook is a salesman, first and foremost. Despite the CEO's talk, Apple was late to AI. It only made its first AI models public in December 2023. One anonymous worker inside Apple told Gurman last year that it was “a pretty big miss internally.†Then again, we may not need an Apple Intelligence as capable as ChatGPT. The ideal is to have an "agentic" AI that works on-device. It needs to be capable of taking information between apps, like setting a calendar reminder based on a text (something Gemini is already edging close to). The first company to reach that goal will have struck gold; AI summaries be damned.
[3]
Apple Employees Believe They're At least Two Years Behind in AI Development
Apple introduced its 'Apple Intelligence' feature at WWDC 2024 in June, marking the company's first step into the AI league. Since the announcement, the Apple Intelligence features have been in beta development. The Cupertino tech giant will roll out its first set of AI features on October 28 in the U.S. While the Apple Intelligence release date is just around the corner, it might not be as majestic as expected. According to Mark Gurman's latest newsletter, some employees at Apple believe that the company is at least two years behind in Artificial Intelligence development. Apple Intelligence system includes an array of useful and neat features, including Writing Tools, AI notification summaries, Image Playground, Genmoji, an all-new Siri with personal context, and more. Apple's AI features mostly rely on models that can run on-device. That's why there are certain requirements to run Apple Intelligence features. Only devices with at least an A17 Pro or M-series chipset, and at least 8GB of memory are compatible with Apple Intelligence. As a part of Apple's AI strategy, the giant teamed up with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT across the system. This will ensure that Apple's AI system isn't limited to on-device intelligence, but can even handle complex queries as well. OpenAI is one of the top names in the AI space and they develop some of the greatest AI models. Apple mentioned it will integrate GPT-4o across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Users can access ChatGPT via Siri, Writing Tools, and other first-party apps and features. ChatGPT integration will help Apple close the large AI gap and compete neck-to-neck with its direct rivals. According to Gurman, ChatGPT can outperform Siri. Internal studies at Apple showed that ChatGPT is around 25% more accurate than Siri. In addition, ChatGPT could answer 30% more questions compared to Siri. Well, these assessments have raised questions and internal concerns about Apple's generative AI technology, with some employees believing that Apple is two years behind the leaders in AI. "Some at Apple believe that its generative AI technology - at least, so far - is more than two years behind the industry leaders." Even if Apple has embarked on its AI journey, it doesn't seem to go in the right direction. The staggered roll-out is confusing and seems to have crushed the Apple Intelligence hype. On top of that, the first serving of Apple's AI features seems to be underwhelming. Apple might release its AI system this month, but its most impressive features like Image Playground, Genmoji, and all-new powerful Siri are slated to arrive later this year. Even if Apple is falling two years behind in the AI race, it's hard to count it out. Apple has a history of successfully catching up in fields they seemingly lag. One of the biggest examples is Apple Maps. Gurman believes Apple will catch up to its competitors in the AI space, whether they have to hire more experts or acquire the top AI companies. After all, Apple is a cherished brand with absolutely unlimited resources. Additionally, Gurman believes that Apple has an impeccable ability to roll out its features to a massive base of devices. When Apple announced AI in June, it was only compatible with two iPhones, a few iPads, and M-series Macs. Four months down, we have four new iPhones and almost every iPad with AI support. Since Apple is expected to launch its M4 Macs soon, this will only help the company speed up its AI tasks. Gurman says that by 2026, we might see Apple Intelligence running on every device with a screen. Apple is gearing up to launch its next-generation affordable iPhone lineup, the iPhone SE 4 with an A18 chip and Apple intelligence support in early 2025. Also, the entry-level iPad might receive an update later in 2025. Not to forget, OpenAI is one of the models that Apple has integrated. The giant plans to integrate more models in the future. With this ability to multiple AI models on tons of devices, Apple is bound to get an edge as these models iterate. It will be interesting to see how Apple uses this advantage to impress its wide fan base. Do you think Apple is going in the right direction with its AI strategy? Don't forget to share your views in the comments below.
[4]
Gurman: Apple Believes Its AI Technology Is Two Years Behind Rivals
Some Apple employees believe that the company's in-house generative AI technology powering Apple Intelligence is more than two years behind industry leaders, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman's sources within Apple tell him that the company's own studies suggest its upcoming AI features lack the "wow factor" of rival technologies currently offered by the likes of Google, OpenAI, and Meta. For example, internal studies at Apple reportedly show that OpenAI's ChatGPT is 25% more accurate than the new Siri and can answer 30% more questions. Of course, Apple has already conceded as much, given that part of its strategy includes a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its operating systems, providing users with the option to tap into greater generative AI assistance if they want it. Despite the setback, Gurman notes that Apple is in the unique position of presiding over a vast ecosystem of tightly integrated devices, which gives it the advantage of being able to quickly deploy new technologies across its product line. This could prove advantageous as the company works to close the AI gap with competitors, and its history of successfully entering new markets suggests it shouldn't be counted out. Apple's latest iPhone 16 series supports Apple Intelligence, as does its Macs and its iPad lineup (with the exception of the entry-level model) following last week's iPad mini 7 announcement. The first set of AI features are expected to roll out to these devices next week. Meanwhile, a new iPhone SE 4 with Apple Intelligence support is set to launch in March, with an AI-capable entry-level iPad said to be coming later in the same year. In addition, Apple is working on bringing the technology to Vision Pro, and given that AI notification summaries can be delivered to Apple Watch, Gurman suggests that by early 2026, "nearly every Apple device with a screen" will run Apple Intelligence.
[5]
Apple Intelligence could already be two years behind ChatGPT as Apple's AI gets ready for launch
Apple Intelligence isn't even available to the public yet, but a new report claims it's "at least [...] two years behind the industry leaders." In his most recent Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman wrote he'd been told about internal studies at Apple that show just how much ground Apple Intelligence needs to make up to get to ChatGPT's level. He wrote, "The research found that OpenAI's ChatGPT was 25% more accurate than Apple's Siri, and able to answer 30% more questions." That means according to the studies, ChatGPT is quite a bit better than Apple Intelligence's current form but considering Apple's delayed start it might not be too long until the company catches up. Gurman added, "In fact, some at Apple believe that its generative AI technology -- at least, so far -- is more than two years behind the industry leaders." Two years might sound like a long time, but if Apple's first-party AI tools are up to ChatGPT's standard by 2026, Apple devices will have incredibly competent AI capabilities. Considering how fast the AI industry is evolving, who knows what AI will be capable of in just two years, and will Apple continue to lag behind? It's not all doom and gloom for Apple, however, Gurman states "It's hard to count Apple out." After all, Apple is renowned for not doing things first, but doing them best and Gurman believes "At some point, Apple will either develop, hire or acquire its way into the top tier of AI companies." There's also Apple's huge user base that plays a determining factor in its AI development. After all, the company can simply roll out AI features to millions of devices and make AI accessible to all. In the iPhone 16 marketing, Apple claims Apple Intelligence is "AI for the rest of us" and the company hopes to build on that mantra by making Apple Intelligence available on as many devices as possible. Gurman claims, "By 2026, nearly every Apple device with a screen will run it: The iPhone SE will gain the features in March, and the entry-level iPad will probably get updated later in the year." That's a huge step in making Apple Intelligence the core of the Apple experience, and with a big chunk of development to catch up on, that strategy of making Apple Intelligence the center of the Apple ecosystem is probably Apple's best bet. Once Apple does catch up, companies like Google and Samsung will struggle to keep up as Apple Intelligence can be upgraded and new features rolled out at an unmatchable speed. "They have more fragmented operating systems, and their hardware, software and services aren't as tightly integrated." With Apple Intelligence expected to launch on October 28, we've only got a week or so to go until Apple's AI tools become available to the world - time will tell just how big an impact the company can have in the AI industry.
[6]
Gurman: Apple internally believes that it's around two years behind in AI development - 9to5Mac
According to the latest edition of Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter, some employees at Apple believe that the company is around two years behind in artificial intelligence development. We also get some insight on a few internal studies, and a look ahead at Apple's strategy. Apple unveiled the Apple Intelligence feature set back at WWDC24 back in June, marking the company's first step into the world's current AI craze. There were a number of neat features that Apple built, including AI notification summaries, intelligent breakthrough for important notifications, an all new Siri with personal context, Image Playground, Genmoji, and more. However, one interesting thing about Apple's AI strategy, one that wasn't rumored until relatively late in the development cycle, is the fact that they aren't doing it all on their own. Apple Intelligence mostly relies on models that can run on-device, which also means that the requirements to run Apple Intelligence are pretty high. You need an A17 or M1 chipset or later, with at least 8GB of memory. However, the fact that they run on device also inherently limits how information heavy they can be. And for that reason, Apple also announced a partnership with OpenAI for ChatGPT integration across the system. You're not forced to use it, but if you want to tap into additional knowledge, it's there. OpenAI develops some of the world's greatest AI models, and Apple announced that they'd be supporting GPT-4o across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. It'll be integrated in Siri, as well as Writing Tools. ChatGPT integration was expected to close the knowledge gap, and now we know exactly how large that knowledge gap is. According to Gurman, Apple's internal studies show that ChatGPT is around 25% more accurate than Siri, and can answer around 30% more questions. He also later states that "some at Apple believe that its generative AI technology - at least, so far - is more than two years behind the industry leaders." Historically, Apple has proven successful in catching up in fields they're seemingly behind in, such as Apple Maps. Gurman believes that Apple will catch up regardless, whether they do it themselves, hire people to do it, or acquire the necessary companies to do so. Additionally, Gurman says that by 2026, every Apple device with a screen will run it, with the iPhone SE gaining the A18 chip in March as we expected, and the entry-level iPad "probably" getting updated later in 2025. Apple obviously has the advantage of having tons of devices with high capability to run AI models, so as they iterate, we'll all get to benefit from it quickly. It's just a matter of how Apple develops things going forward. What do you think of Apple's AI strategy? What would you like to see Apple Intelligence support in the future? Let us know in the comments.
[7]
Apple Employees Believe The Company Is Two Years Behind Competition In AI Development, As It Will Rely On ChatGPT To Close The Knowledge Gap
Apple showcased its AI features at its WWDC event in June of this year. While the features are pretty appealing, the company still has a lot to do to compete against the giants of the industry, including OpenAI's ChatGPT platform. The company was last to step into the AI world, as Google and Samsung had already begun their efforts to integrate the technology into their devices. A prominent analyst now claims that Apple is two years behind in AI development, and it is strategizing to offer the technology on all of its devices in the coming two years. Apple has already announced its AI endeavors, but it has yet to release it to the general public. Apple appears to be testing the arrival of Apple Intelligence features with the release of iOS 18.1 next week, but the update will not include everything the company showcased on WWDC. Instead, the company will divide the features into various updates and release the entirety until next year. We have recently covered that Apple has already started working on ChatGPT integration with Siri, and it will be made available to the general public later this year. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg claims in his latest Power On newsletter that some Apple employees believe that the company is two years behind the competition when it comes to AI development. The time frame makes sense as Apple did step into the category later than most competitors, including Google, Microsoft, and some other major players. It is worth noting that the company has a steady pace in catching up with technology, and Apple Intelligence could be another mark that the company could achieve. Gurman states that Apple will eventually catch up to the industry standards, even if it has to outsource the development process or integrate third-party language models. With that said, Gurman says that in the next two years, all Apple Devices with a screen will run Apple Intelligence. Apple recently announced the iPad mini 7, which features all the hardware requirements for Apple Intelligence, including 8GB of RAM and an A17 Pro chip. The entry-level iPad will potentially be upgraded next year with the same AI features. Additionally, we have recently covered that Apple is planning to introduce a new iPhone 17 'Air' model next year with 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to launch in the Spring of 2025, and it will become the cheapest iPhone to feature Apple Intelligence. It appears that the company is all in on the AI front and it is planning to integrate the technology on all of its devices. Do you think Apple will fill the two-year gap in AI advancements?
[8]
Android users are getting superior AI features, and Apple knows it
According to a Bloomberg report, internal Apple studies have found ChatGPT to be 25% more accurate than Siri. The OpenAI chatbot can also answer 30% more questions. Given the current state of AI at the company, some Apple employees "believe that its generative AI technology -- at least, so far -- is more than two years behind the industry leaders." While the Cupertino firm has been showcasing its AI suite to market the iPhone 16, the first batch of Apple Intelligence features will miss out on most of them. Next week, eligible users will be able to manipulate text with Writing Tools, summarize notifications and articles, and send auto-generated replies. However, the more exciting additions like Genmoji, Image Playground, native ChatGPT integration, and context-aware Siri are still months away.
[9]
Apple is '2 years behind' on AI but here's why I think it will still end up ahead
Apple has been working on machine learning and AI technology for decades. It is deeply integrated into all its products, including providing health data and services in the Apple Watch. But it was late to the game when it came to generative AI. According to Mark Gurman, writing for Bloomberg, Apple's research found that ChatGPT was at least 25% more accurate than Siri and could answer more questions. Its biggest differentiator is its conversational nature, where you can talk back to it after it responds to ask follow-up questions. According to Gurman: "Some at Apple believe that its generative AI technology -- at least, so far -- is more than two years behind the industry leaders." While this might sound bad for a company working at the cutting edge of technology, Apple is in a very good position to make up the difference. It has plenty of resources for research and development, deep integration between hardware and software, and a loyal user base. Apple's primary focus has been on consumer tech, building devices and software that work seamlessly together and provide the tools and services its customers want. This hasn't always required it to be at the bleeding edge of research. With the launch of Apple Intelligence, still gradually rolling out, the company is starting to catch up, but it's doing so in a way that still focuses on consumer need rather than showing off. This is most obvious in its writing tools, which are deeply integrated throughout the ecosystem. However, and writing to Gurman's point, so far what we've seen from Apple is just an adaptation of technology that has been around for some time. It doesn't seem to be innovating at the bleeding edge, which could cause problems for it in the coming years as companies like Meta build out their smart glasses or ChatGPT owner OpenAI works on its own devices. One solution to this, and something that Apple has already started to deploy, is through partnerships with the big AI labs. Siri has been built in such a way that it can pull data from any other app or trigger functions in another app. This means that in the future, you could be having a conversation with Apple's simple chatbot, and it can turn to ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or some future AI that we have yet to see for advice or a more complex response. The other superpower Apple has in its arsenal is the massive network of devices at its disposal. Billions of phones, tablets, and laptops running Apple's operating system could be given an Apple Intelligence upgrade, deploying consumer AI at a scale no other company outside of possibly Samsung can enjoy. While it is true that Apple may be two years behind the bleeding edge, I certainly wouldn't discount a company with enough money in reserve to buy a leading AI lab, enough researchers putting out fascinating studies, papers, and code every day to keep investors interested, and a deep integration between hardware and software that allows them to deploy models that wouldn't necessarily run on any other device. And all this is before we even get Apple Intelligence on the Watch, which I've previously said is one of the best form factors for delivering AI interaction.
[10]
The 4 words Tim Cook uses to defend Apple's late AI start
"Not first, but best," Cook -- and other executives -- told the Wall Street Journal about Apple's AI strategy in an interview published Sunday. The Cupertino, California-based tech giant unveiled its AI initiative, Apple Intelligence, this past June. While OpenAI launched its popular generative AI chatbot ChatGPT in late 2022 -- followed by Google (GOOGL+0.20%), Microsoft (MSFT-0.72%), and Meta's (META-0.72%) flurry of chatbots, custom AI chips, and AI software features -- Apple stayed quiet. But according to Cook, who has been at Apple's helm since 2011 after Steve Jobs resigned, the company was looking to perfect its suite of AI tools -- rather than win a mad dash to a not-yet-existent finish line. "We're perfectly fine with not being first," he told the Wall Street Journal. "As it turns out, it takes a while to get it really great. It takes a lot of iteration. It takes worrying about every detail. Sometimes, it takes a little longer to do that. "We would rather come out with that kind of product and that kind of contribution to people versus running to get something out first. If we can do both, that's fantastic. But if we can only do one, there's no doubt around here. If you talk to 100 people, 100 of them would tell you: It's about being the best." But even the rollout of Apple Intelligence has faced delays: It didn't come pre-installed to the new iPhone 16 lineup, as new software usually does, but is instead going to be introduced as a software update later this month. Apple Intelligence includes a slate of new features for iPhone 15 Pro models and higher, including the ability to understand and create images and language; edit, change tone, and proofread text; and create new emojis using a typed description. Voice assistant Siri will also become more natural, relevant, and personalized and will allow users to access ChatGPT directly from their devices.
[11]
Apple Intelligence Reportedly More Than Two Years Behind Rivals
The AI-powered Siri will reportedly not arrive till next year Apple Intelligence is the company's biggest bet for the iPhone 16 series and the newly launched iPad mini. The suite of artificial intelligence (AI) features will reportedly debut on October 28, integrating compatible devices with features such as Writing Tools, notification summaries, and more. However, as per a new report, Apple Intelligence might be significantly behind rivals in terms of output capabilities. If true, this might dent the sales of the new iPhone devices and iPad mini, which have been heavily marketed on the back of AI capabilities. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter that Apple Intelligence features might not be on par with the offerings of rivals such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. Citing unnamed Apple employees, the report claimed that the AI features could be more than two years behind other industry leaders. Gurman further highlighted several internal studies made by Apple and claimed that the AI-powered Siri is 25 percent less accurate than ChatGPT, and answers 30 percent lesser questions compared to OpenAI's chatbot. A similar difference reportedly exists when compared to Gemini as well. This is not promising given that the upgraded Siri is powered by both ChatGPT as well as the Cupertino-based tech giant's in-house large language models. If Apple's AI technology cannot compete with those from rivals, it might push away users from using these features and from upgrading their devices to newer models. However, Gurman also claimed that the tech giant had a big advantage in quickly rolling out the feature to a large number of devices given the existing hardware stack it has equipped in its recently launched devices. For instance, during the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, the company had announced the AI features to just two iPhone devices and two iPad models. But now, it is already announced to be available on the new iPhone 16 models, all the new generation iPad devices as well as all the Mac devices currently available on the Apple Store. Further, Gurman claimed that by 2026, the tech giant plans to introduce Apple Intelligence to nearly every device with a screen.
[12]
Apple's own research sheds light on Siri's AI laggardness | Digital Trends
With the introduction of the new iPad Mini, Apple made it clear that a software experience brimming with AI is the way forward. And if that meant making the same kind of internal upgrades to a tablet that costs nearly half as much as its flagship phone, the company would still march forward. However, its ambitions with Apple Intelligence lack competitive vigor, and even by Apple's own standards, the experience hasn't managed to wow users. On top of that, the staggered rollout of the most ambitious AI features -- many of which are still in the future -- has left enthusiasts with a bad taste. Recommended Videos Now, it appears that the reason behind the delays has something to do with quality and performance, as per Apple's own testing. "The research found that OpenAI's ChatGPT was 25% more accurate than Apple's Siri, and able to answer 30% more questions," says a Bloomberg report. To recall, Apple's position with Siri is quite unique. For example, Siri is getting enhanced natural language understanding and deeper integration with apps as well as local files. However, there are tasks it can't quite accomplish, and for such situations, the queries will be seamlessly offloaded to ChatGPT. That's part of a deal Apple inked with OpenAI. Now, it would make sense that Siri can't quite pull the same kind of internet-connected tasks as ChatGPT, primarily because Siri and ChatGPT are two entirely different products. However, Apple is deploying OpenAI's tech stack in more places than just Siri. According to OpenAI, the ChatGPT will also lend a hand to users with "image and document understanding." The Writing Tools - which have already arrived in tools like Notes and Safari -- are also tapping into the ChatGPT kitty. Moreover, image generation will also be handled by OpenAI's tech. With such deep reliance on ChatGPT, one might think that's because Apple isn't quite there on the leaderboard with its own AI tech stack, something that could rival the likes of Google's Gemini or Meta. That assumption won't be entirely implausible, and even Apple's team seems to agree with the status quo. "In fact, some at Apple believe that its generative AI technology -- at least, so far -- is more than two years behind the industry leaders," adds the Bloomberg report. Yet, it's not merely about advancements, but also the pace of rollout. Take a look at Galaxy AI, Samsung's take on an AI ecosystem that has already appeared on a wide array of its phones and computing machines, with some help from Google's Gemini stack. Chinese smartphone makers have already been offering generative AI features like image generation and a next-gen assistant for a while now. At this point in time, it seems almost certain that Apple's strategy with Apple Intelligence was hurried, apparently in a bid to quell investor concerns that the company was lagging in the AI race. So far, whatever little we have seen from Apple's "AI revolution" has been far from revolutionary. The best implementation of Apple Intelligence so far has been notification summaries and prioritization, but those are more utilitarian features than something that would reimagine the software experience for users. It would be interesting to see how Apple injects fresh energy into its AI approach next year. But so far, the company hasn't made any such announcements, and even the promises it made at its developers conference earlier this year are yet to materialize.
[13]
Industry Analysis Reveals Apple's AI Progress Stalls Behind Rivals by Two Years
Apple is ramping up its AI efforts, but a recent internal assessment reveals that Siri lags significantly behind models like OpenAI's ChatGPT Apple is intensifying its efforts to bolster its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, but a recent internal assessment paints a concerning picture of the company's competitive standing. According to a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's research indicates that Siri, the company's flagship virtual assistant, is significantly trailing behind cutting-edge AI models like OpenAI's ChatGPT. The analysis reveals that ChatGPT outperforms Siri by a margin of 25 per cent in accuracy and can address 30 per cent more inquiries. This performance gap has raised alarms within Apple regarding its ability to compete effectively in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. The findings suggest that Apple's generative AI technology is more than two years behind industry frontrunners, including OpenAI and other leading firms such as Google and Microsoft, which have been aggressively enhancing their AI capabilities through substantial investments and research initiatives. Despite these setbacks, Apple is not standing still. The tech giant continues to invest in AI-driven features across its product line. The recently launched iPad mini, for instance, is equipped with specialized hardware designed to support Apple's new AI platform referred to as Apple Intelligence. This platform aims to harness machine learning for improved user experiences and smarter features across devices including predictive text and image recognition. However, early adopters may find themselves disappointed as the full functionality of these features will only be available through a post-launch software update. This delay raises questions about Apple's readiness to deliver on its ambitious AI promises, potentially frustrating users eager to leverage the new technology. Moreover, Apple's struggles with Siri highlight broader challenges the company faces in adapting to the AI revolution. While competitors like OpenAI and Google have developed advanced conversational agents capable of natural language understanding and contextual awareness, Siri has remained relatively static in its capabilities. To regain its competitive edge, Apple may need to rethink its approach to AI development, potentially considering partnerships, acquisitions or enhanced hiring practices to attract top talent in the field. In focusing on advancements, however, encounters pressure to boost the pace of its AI growth and offer rapid innovations. The enterprise needs to tackle these performance shortfalls and upgrade its AI services. These ABI opportunities should be exploited or the enterprise will be more entrenched as a lagger in a fast-churning industry which requires a culture of aggressive developments and innovations creating a competitive adverse weight. The AI landscape has raised competitive tensions and Apple is now attempting to reposition itself in the sector to close the gap with its rivals. The next few months we see moves from Apple in an attempt to not just catch up but also to foster novel ideas in an already cluttered marketplace. Quite a few in the industry, however, will be quite interested in how Apple manages all this and where it places itself in the scheme of the AI race.
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Apple's emphasis on on-device AI offers more privacy, security
The rollout of Apple Intelligence promises a wealth of new and useful features. Image credit: Apple While some employees believe Apple is currently lagging behind rivals its Apple Intelligence development, the company expects to gain ground in 2025 by introducing new chips and new models. Apple has been promoting the arrival of Apple Intelligence in its latest devices, which will roll out slowly across the next few months via software updates. Users will notice some new features and changes starting with Siri as early as iOS 18.1, which is expected to arrive by the end of October. However, a Bloomberg newsletter claims that some employees feel Apple is significantly behind its rivals, who won't be sitting still on AI development either. For example, internal reports at Apple are claimed to show that ChatGPT's responses to queries are currently about 25 percent more accurate than Siri. ChatGPT can aLeo answer some 30 percent more questions. Until that gap can be closed, Apple will emphasize features such as the promotion of timely notifications, summaries of longer emails and messages, and the partnership with ChatGPT for advanced queries. A more advanced Siri, generative emoji creation, and Image Playground are expected to arrive starting early in 2025. Google and other competitors are already offering some features Apple will put into future Apple Intelligence releases, such as email summaries. Apple's promotional focus for its AI thus far has been an emphasis on being able to do much of the work on-device, for greater privacy and security.For example, users are made aware when outside resources like ChatGPT are used, and what user information, if any, is disclosed. Due to the high resource requirements of AI, the company has drawn something of a line in the sand. Only the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max or later models will run Apple Intelligence, and devices will need at least an A17 or M1 chipset, with at least 8GB of RAM. Apple has a lot to do to close the gap between its own development and those of its rivals across 2025 and into 2026. This will be by hiring additional engineers, acquiring companies with promising new technology, and otherwise plowing lots more resources into Apple Intelligence development. While Apple Intelligence matures, the company will focus on bringing out hardware that can run the advanced services as they arrive. The next iPhone SE is expected to have an A18 chip and 8GB of RAM in it, and the entry-level iPad is likely to get a similar update sometime in 2025. According to the report, by early 2026, Apple's entire Mac, iPhone, and iPad devices will be Apple Intelligence-ready. The company will focus on using that, along with redesigns on some products and other updates, to convince users to upgrade.
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Apple's upcoming AI features, known as Apple Intelligence, are reportedly two years behind competitors like OpenAI and Google. However, the company's ecosystem integration and partnership strategy may give it a unique advantage in the long run.
Apple's foray into artificial intelligence with its 'Apple Intelligence' features, announced at WWDC 2024, has been met with mixed reactions. According to recent reports, some Apple employees believe that the company's AI technology is more than two years behind industry leaders such as OpenAI and Google [1][2][3]. This assessment comes as Apple prepares to roll out its first set of AI features on October 28 in the U.S.
Internal studies at Apple have shown that ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is approximately 25% more accurate than Siri and can answer 30% more questions [1][3]. These findings have raised concerns about Apple's generative AI capabilities and its ability to compete in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Despite the apparent lag, Apple has taken strategic steps to bolster its AI offerings:
On-device processing: Apple's AI features primarily rely on models that run directly on devices, requiring powerful hardware like the A17 Pro or M-series chipsets [2][3].
OpenAI partnership: Apple has teamed up with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT across its operating systems, allowing access to more advanced language models [1][2].
Ecosystem integration: Apple plans to make its AI features available across its device ecosystem, potentially reaching every Apple device with a screen by 2026 [4][5].
While Apple may be behind in AI development, industry experts and analysts point out several factors that could work in the company's favor:
Ecosystem strength: Apple's tightly integrated hardware and software ecosystem allows for rapid deployment of new technologies across its product line [4][5].
User base: The company's ability to roll out features to a massive user base gives it a significant advantage in data collection and refinement of AI models [3][5].
History of successful market entries: Apple has a track record of entering markets late but ultimately dominating them through superior implementation and user experience [1][4].
The first set of Apple Intelligence features will include:
More advanced features like Image Playground, Genmoji, and an enhanced Siri are expected to be released later [2][3].
As Apple works to close the AI gap, competitors like Google and Samsung may face challenges due to their more fragmented ecosystems [5]. However, the rapid pace of AI development means that the landscape could shift significantly in the coming years.
Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, remains optimistic about the company's AI strategy, stating, "We weren't the first to do intelligence, but we've done it in a way that we think is the best for the customer" [2]. As Apple continues to invest in AI development and leverage its ecosystem advantages, the tech industry will be watching closely to see if the company can replicate its past successes in this new frontier of technology.
Reference
Apple's recent iPhone 16 launch event introduced 'Apple Intelligence', their approach to AI integration. While the tech giant aims to revolutionize user experience, questions and skepticism arise about its implementation and impact.
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Apple introduces on-device AI capabilities for iPhones, iPads, and Macs, promising enhanced user experiences while maintaining privacy. The move puts Apple in direct competition with other tech giants in the AI race.
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Apple is set to introduce 'Apple Intelligence', a suite of AI-powered features for iPhones. While some features may arrive with iOS 18 in 2024, the full rollout could extend into 2025, potentially transforming user interactions with Apple devices.
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Apple is set to introduce its new AI-driven technology, Apple Intelligence, across its devices in October. This update promises to enhance user experience with advanced features for productivity, creativity, and accessibility.
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Apple has launched the iPhone 16, featuring advanced AI capabilities and a focus on 'intelligence'. While the company hopes these new features will drive sales, analysts remain cautious about the immediate impact on the sluggish smartphone market.
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