Apple AI: How it Works, Features, Generative AI Plans, Applications

Introduction

Many think that Apple is behind when it comes to artificial intelligence, but we are here to tell you that Apple AI is already here.

Apple has avoided the term “AI“ or artificial intelligence until recently, with executives using the term in more interviews and press releases.

Apple has been working on machine learning tools for its devices for years, an early example being how its touchscreen keyboard works on the iPhone. It used algorithms to determine which letter a person wanted to type as they typed and would learn based on each user.

This keyboard feature has evolved into an advanced predictive autocorrect system that now uses a transform language model in iOS 17.

What is Apple AI?

Apple AI (Apple Artificial Intelligence) represents an integration of advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence into Apple’s ecosystem.

Also, it’s a term encompassing various technologies enabling Apple devices to understand, to adapt, and to respond to user behavior, creating high intuitive and personalized user experience.

Apple’s AI prowess is epitomized by Siri and ai, the voice-activated virtual assistant, seamlessly blending cutting-edge technology with user-friendly interactions.

iOS 18: new AI features in the works

There are multiple rumors about various AI features in the works at Apple. Bloomberg reported that Apple believes iOS 18 will be one of the “biggest updates to iOS,” headlined by a host of new AI features.

Mark Gurman reported last July that Apple had created its own Large Language Model (LLM) system, called AppleGPT. The project uses a framework called “Ajax” that Apple began building in 2022 to base multiple machine learning projects on a common foundation. This Ajax framework will serve as the foundation for Apple’s upcoming AI features across its platform.

9to5Mac found evidence of Apple’s work on new AI technology and large language models in iOS 17.4. We reported that Apple relies on OpenAI’s ChatGPT API for internal testing and to help develop its own AI models.

iOS 17.4: Apple continues to work on AI-powered Messages and Siri features, with the help of ChatGPT

What are the rumors about new AI features coming to iOS 18:

• The latest version of Siri is smarter and is on large language model technology that is similar to platforms like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
• New AI features for Apple Music that allow users to automatically generate playlists.
• AI integration into Pages, Keynote, and Numbers for summaries, content creation, and more.
• AI functions for Xcode that can complete blocks of code, help test applications, and more.
• An improved version of Spotlight Search that is powered by generative AI and can perform more complex tasks.
• There is an AI-powered built wellness coaching feature in Apple Health and Apple Watch.
• New AI features for the Messages app that can automatically complete messages, answer questions, and summarize incoming text messages.

Apple’s AI frameworks

Did you know that Apple has already released several powerful AI frameworks and models? Here is a summary:

• Apple AI’s work continues: editing photos using text commands
• Apple Keyframer generates AI animation from a still image and a text message
• Apple researchers reveal new AI breakthrough to train master’s students in images and text

AI for Siri

Apple’s work on generative AI could eventually be integrated into its ‌Siri‌ voice assistant. Apple held an AI summit in February 2023 and briefed employees on its extensive language modeling work.

Because of the way ‌Siri‌ is built, it may take a while for Apple to update its database to support new features. Former ‌Siri‌ engineer John Burkey told the New York Times that ‌Siri‌’s “heavy design” means that adding new phrases requires rebuilding ‌Siri‌’s database, which can take up to six weeks each time, while features More complex ones, such as search tools, can take more than a year. . .

There are also privacy concerns that Apple must address by adding generative AI capabilities to ‌Siri‌. Apple has always been more cautious than its competitors, putting privacy before functionality, a move that has placed ‌Siri‌ behind Alexa, Google Assistant and other personal voice assistant options.

Reports suggest that Apple is aiming to create a feature that would allow ‌Siri‌ to automate multi-step tasks, automatically completing tasks completed today with shortcuts.

According to Bloomberg, Apple is aiming for a smarter version of Siri, deeply integrated with AI. Apple plans to update the way ‌Siri interacts with the Messages app, allowing users to answer complex questions more efficiently and automatically complete sentences.

Rumors suggest that Siri will have better natural conversation capabilities and better user customization. The new feature will be available on all devices, so ‌Siri‌ will be able to maintain conversation information from one device to another.

Apple prepares AI-enabled M4 computer processor for all Mac models

According to a Bloomberg News report on Thursday, April 11, Apple Inc. will produce an M4 computer processor with artificial intelligence (AI) processing capabilities and plans to update all Mac models with the chip.

The company aims to release an updated computer later this year and early next year. The computers will include new iMacs, lower-end 14-inch MacBook Pros, higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch Macs, and mini Macs.
Apple plans to highlight the AI processing capabilities of these new chips and how they will integrate with the next version of macOS, according to a Bloomberg report.

The news comes ahead of Apple’s annual developer conference in June, with reports indicating that the iPhone maker will announce a new partnership with AI and reveal significant changes to iOS.

Apple’s AI ambitions could include Google or OpenAI

Apple is reported mostly in “active negotiations” with Google to get its Gemini generative AI technology to an iPhone, Bloomberg reports, and is using OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

CEO Tim Cook has already confirmed that Apple is spending “a tremendous amount of time and effort” on AI features and plans to offer them to customers “later this year.” The Bloomberg report suggests that AI features built into Apple products could eventually be powered by a combination of first-party and third-party AI models.

Apple models could power on-device generative AI with iOS 18, launching later this year, while cloud-based AI features such as text and image generation could come from partnerships with companies. like Google.

If a deal with Google goes through, Apple wouldn’t be the first company to tap the search giant to provide artificial intelligence features on its phones. Earlier this year, Samsung added a number of Galaxy AI-branded features to its Galaxy S24 smartphones, which are powered by Google’s AI technology. Google’s AI also features prominently in its own Pixel 8 devices. It has not yet been decided whether Google’s AI technology will be implemented in Apple devices.

The iPhone maker already has a long-standing agreement with Google to make Google Search the default feature on its devices, in a deal estimated to be worth $18 billion a year. But such agreements are increasingly controversial among regulators, and the US Department of Justice accuses Google of using them to unfairly consolidate its search engine’s position in the market.

Apple AI and Google

A potential AI deal between Apple and Google could expand the reach of Google’s AI tools to the more than 2 billion devices Apple currently has on the market. But Bloomberg notes that this risks being a concession by Apple that its own generative AI technology is behind its competitors.

Apple employees have apparently been testing an internal chatbot called Apple GPT, and the company is said to have its own large language model called Ajax, but Apple’s AI technology is less advanced compared to the competition.

It looks like we’ll have to wait a bit to find out if Apple will finally sign its AI deal with Google.

Hidden AI Features Available on Your iPhone Today

Here are some of your favorite AI-powered features on the latest iPhones right now.

Digitally clone your voice

Apple may not have a chatbot, but it’s already using AI in a feature that arrived with iOS 17 last year. Personal Voice is an accessibility setting that uses on-device machine learning to enable people at risk of speech loss to reproduce their voice so they can more easily communicate with loved ones. To learn your voice, iPhone asks you to read 150 sentences aloud. It then uses AI to analyze your voice and generate a synthetic version of it.

To communicate using this new synthetic voice, you’ll use iPhone’s text-to-speech tools to convert text to speech in FaceTime and compatible third-party apps.

Copy text from iPhone images easily

Live Text is a front-end AI feature now available on iPhone with iOS 15 software from 2021 or later. It’s a computer vision tool that recognizes handwritten and typed text in photographs, much like Google Lens. The text in the images can then be copied and pasted with just a few clicks.

Live Text can often prove useful in everyday life. Let’s say you have a handwritten recipe and you want to digitize it. After you take a photo of this recipe with your iPhone, you can copy and paste this text into a Word document, for example, and save it as a digital backup. Here’s a step-by-step guide explaining exactly how to do it in case you’re interested.

Competing phone makers have also jumped on the bandwagon. The Honor Magic 6 Pro and Magic V2, which run on the company’s Magic OS 8 software, introduced a Magic Text feature with similar capabilities.

New and improved automatic correction

With its latest software update, Apple has also fixed one of the biggest issues with AutoCorrect. You can now swear without Apple changing your favorite curse word to something more innocuous, like “get down” or “shut up.”

In addition to allowing you to swear easily, autocorrect has also improved on a broader level. Autocorrect can now correct errors more accurately and provide more personalized inline predictive text. Much of this improvement attributes to iOS 17’s transformative new language model, which uses machine learning for word prediction according to Apple. It trains with a large amount of data, allowing it to learn context and patterns to provide better results or, in this case, the ability to reproduce the sound of humans.

Photographic Intelligence

It’s no secret that the iPhone relies on advanced algorithms and computational photography for much of its camera functionality. Portrait mode uses AI to identify multiple subjects and create a bokeh effect, is just one example. Cinematic mode uses AI to simulate the aperture and dynamically adjusts focus to keep your moving subject sharp. One of the newest AI-powered features is courtesy of iOS 17. It is the Photo app’s ability to identify pets in a photo, allowing for better photo organization.

Benefits of Using Apple AI

1. Enhanced User Experience: The Apple AI strives to indulge with devices seamless, adapting to user preferences and habits over time.
2. Predictive Capabilities: The technology anticipates user needs, providing proactive suggestions and automating routine tasks.
3. Improved Security: Apple AI contributes to robust security measures by detecting and mitigating various potential threats with advanced algorithms.
4. Personalization: Tailoring experiences based on individual preferences, it ensures that users receive content and recommendations tailored to their liking.
5. Efficient Task Management: From organizing schedules to managing notifications, it optimizes task management, boosting overall productivity.

Limitations of Apple AI

1. Data Privacy Concerns: The extensive data analysis raises concerns about user privacy, necessitating transparent policies to address these worries.
2. Dependency on Connectivity: Many features require a stable internet connection, limiting functionality in areas with poor connectivity.
3. Algorithmic Bias: The algorithms powering it may exhibit biases, potentially leading to discriminatory outcomes, demanding constant scrutiny and refinement.
4. Resource Intensive: Some it features may consume significant device resources, impacting performance on older hardware.
5. Learning Curve for Users: Learning curve for users unfamiliar with AI technologies, necessitating user-friendly interfaces and tutorials.

How to Use It

Utilizing it is a straightforward process for Apple device users:

1. Enable Siri: Activate Siri by pressing and holding the side button or saying, “Hey Siri.” Configure Siri settings in the device preferences for a personalized experience.
2. Explore Intelligent Features: Navigate through device settings to explore intelligent features powered by it. Such as predictive text, smart notifications, and personalized recommendations.
3. Stay Updated: Regularly update your Apple device’s software to access the latest advancements and improvements in it functionality.

Is It Safe?

Apple places very strong emphasis on the user privacy and security. It processes most data on-device, minimizing the need for data transfer to external servers.

Additionally, the company employs robust encryption measures to safeguard user information. While no system is entirely immune to risks, it prioritizes security to provide a safe user experience.

Applications

1. Siri Virtual Assistant: Siri is a prime example of it serving as a virtual assistant. It responds to voice commands, answers queries, and performs tasks.
2. Face ID and Touch ID: it enhances biometric authentication, ensuring secure and accurate Face ID and Touch ID functionalities.
3. Photo and Video Organization: it automatically categorizes and organizes photos and videos. By making it easier for users to locate and enjoy their multimedia content.
4. Predictive Typing: The QuickType keyboard uses it to predict the next word users intend to type, streamlining the typing experience.
5. Health and Fitness Tracking: It powers health and fitness apps, providing personalized insights and recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Through Siri’s intuitive capabilities and advancements in machine learning, Apple AI epitomizes with convenience and privacy, setting a new standard for intelligent assistance. As Apple AI continues to evolve, its impact reverberates beyond mere functionality, shaping the future of human-machine interaction. Embracing a philosophy of ethical AI, Apple paves the way for a harmonious coexistence between cutting-edge technology and user-centric design.