Apple announces deal with OpenAI. Will it be a game-changer?

by

As someone who has closely followed the tech industry for over two decades, I can’t help but be intrigued by Apple’s latest announcement of integrating OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its devices. Having grown up in Silicon Valley and witnessing the meteoric rise of AI, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly this technology is evolving and changing the way we live and interact.

Apple is finally taking the plunge on AI.

On Monday, the firm introduced a range of new artificial intelligence features in its latest operating system. These capabilities include integrating Siri, its interactive voice function, with ChatGPT from OpenAI in a significant collaboration. This deal has the potential to significantly boost the adoption of this rapidly advancing technology.

At its developer conference, Apple announced that Siri would be able to retrieve responses from ChatGPT for Apple devices and offer related information across various apps (Siri will be able to fetch answers from ChatGPT for Apple devices and provide contextually relevant information across multiple apps according to Apple’s announcement). Additionally, Apple’s upcoming operating system update includes AI enhancements in photo editing and image search, along with other improvements.

As an avid moviegoer andApple enthusiast, I’m thrilled about Tim Cook’s latest announcement. He calls Apple’s new AI-powered features, Apple Intelligence, a groundbreaking move for our beloved tech giant. For too long, we’ve been waiting for Apple to embrace emerging technologies that have the power to revolutionize the way we live and work. This is an exciting step forward!

In his keynote speech at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, Cook expressed excitement about the latest advancements in generative intelligence and large language models. He believed that these innovations would significantly enhance the user experience of Apple devices, taking it to unprecedented levels as the company showcased the iOS 18 system and other software upgrades for Macs and iPads.

Apple’s latest action indicates a larger goal of the tech giant in the rapidly advancing field of AI. OpenAI’s tools based in San Francisco have been instrumental in generating music videos, reading bedtime stories to kids, and assisting writers in brainstorming ideas. Microsoft and Google are among the companies that have actively integrated AI into their offerings.

Apple typically enters established tech markets rather than being the pioneers, aiming for wider consumer acceptance. They waited before launching their virtual and augmented reality headset (Vision Pro), which they introduced earlier this year.

Apple emphasized that it developed its AI technology with privacy safeguards in place. The intelligence functions on Apple devices process information locally. For tasks needing cloud assistance, Apple devices only communicate with servers after their software has undergone public scrutiny, and user data is not stored or shared.

Apple showcased various applications of Apple’s latest AI capabilities. For instance, if a user of the iPhone receives a notification that a work meeting has been rescheduled to a later hour, they can inquire from Siri how long it takes to travel from the new location of the meeting to their child’s evening play event. Likewise, an iPad owner could snap a picture of an empty porch and query Siri about which plants would be suitable additions.

Additionally, the business noted that clients have the ability to leverage Apple Intelligence to propose adjustments for their compositions. This tool assists in evaluating the email’s tone and suggests modifications to make it more amicable or formal.

According to Daniel Ives, a Wedbush Securities managing director tracking Apple, the OpenAI deal announcement marks a fresh beginning for Apple.

“Today marked a significant milestone for Apple, and Cook & Co. lived up to expectations in my opinion. Ives, with a ‘buy’ recommendation on Apple’s stock, expressed this viewpoint in a note to clients. Apple is wisely integrating AI into its platform, paving the way for its long-term AI strategy. With over 2.2 billion iOS devices in use, Apple is well-positioned to execute this strategy in the coming years.”

Investors were less impressed, sending Apple’s stock down 1.9% to $193.12 a share.

As a follower of Apple’s latest announcements, I’m excited about the company’s plans to enhance its offerings with new AI tools. By doing so, I believe Apple aims to make its products and services even more valuable and appealing to customers. However, the path isn’t without challenges; Apple has experienced a decrease in sales of their devices in China being one of them. Nonetheless, as Ives points out, integrating AI technology into Apple’s ecosystem opens up new possibilities for generating revenue.

Apple’s digital assistant Siri, via its partnership with OpenAI, has the ability to ask Apple users for permission to send queries to ChatGPT for more detailed information. This collaboration enables Apple to leverage ChatGPT’s capabilities while introducing ChatGPT to Apple users. Every day, Siri handles approximately 1.5 billion voice requests.

Later in the year, Apple users with iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems can access ChatGPT for free without creating an account. The interaction between Apple users and ChatGPT won’t be saved by OpenAI, and IP addresses will remain concealed.

In collaboration with Apple, we’re simplifying the process for people to enjoy the advantages of artificial intelligence. (OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s statement)

Apple, among other tech firms, didn’t foresee the significant advancements in AI technology during the past year, according to Rob Enderle, principal analyst at Enderle Group. To keep pace, Apple is forming a partnership with OpenAI as one solution. However, it’s important to note that Microsoft, a rival of Apple, is one of OpenAI’s significant investors.

“According to Enderle, Apple has lagged considerably in the field of AI technology. This new approach is intended to help Apple catch up, as they haven’t prioritized AI development adequately during the past ten years or so.”

On Monday, Apple unveiled several new features and updates, one of which is Apple Intelligence. This innovative function enables AirPods Pro users to answer yes or no to Siri’s queries using head nods or shakes when in bustling environments. Furthermore, the Vision Pro headset will expand its availability to mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore starting later this month.

Apple announced a new function named InSight, which is reminiscent of Amazon’s X-Ray feature, for its tvOS18. This capability displays the identities of actors or the title of the music being played during an Apple TV+ show.

OpenAI, renowned for its popular tools like ChatGPT and Sora, which includes a text-to-video feature, has gained significant recognition in the artificial intelligence industry. However, the company has encountered its share of disputes and obstacles.

Last month, Scarlett Johansson criticized OpenAI after being approached by their CEO to lend her voice for a ChatGPT version resembling Siri. She declined the offer but expressed disappointment upon recognizing what seemed to be her voice in a demo of the chatbot.

Altman has a strong affection for the 2013 film “Her.” In this production, Johansson portrays “Samantha,” an intelligent computer voice that offers companionship and later develops romantic feelings for the solitary protagonist, played by Joaquin Phoenix.

OpenAI announced that the AI voice identified as “Sky” did not belong to Johansson, but was instead voiced by an undisclosed actor. Despite this revelation, OpenAI decided to temporarily halt the usage of the Sky voice.

As a passionate cinema goer, I’ve been following the buzz around OpenAI’s recent decision to disband their team focused on preventing potential disasters from advanced artificial intelligence. The backlash was immense, and I couldn’t help but feel uneasy about the implications of this move. After the controversy, OpenAI responded by establishing a new safety committee, with board members like Altman taking the lead.

Last week, a group of former and present employees at OpenAI penned an open letter expressing their worries. They stated that financial motivations in AI companies are powerful enough to prevent rigorous supervision, and they don’t trust the current structures of corporate governance to bring about change.

As a passionate moviegoer, I firmly believe that robust discussions are essential for growth and progress. And you know what? So does OpenAI! In their recent statement, they expressed their commitment to engaging with various communities, governments, and civil societies in these debates. They even established an anonymous hotline and set up a safety and security committee to ensure open dialogue and address any concerns that may arise.

The company takes great pride in its history of delivering advanced and secure AI solutions, and trusts in its scientific method for managing risks.

Big technology firms are dealing with their own issues as the US administration expresses worries over potential anticompetitive practices.

In March, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company was suppressing competition and exploiting its power over the widely used App Store to boost prices for consumers. Apple responded by stating that the legal action endangered “our identity.”

“Should it be achieved, this could limit Apple’s capability to deliver the innovative technology combining hardware, software, and services that customers look forward to.”

Read More

2024-07-18 22:30