Building the Future of AI
Apple has established a "secretive European laboratory" in Zurich, Switzerland, dedicated to developing AI models and products. This move signals Apple's growing ambition in the AI field, where they have been relatively late to the party compared to rivals like Google, Samsung, and Microsoft.
The team in Zurich is comprised of AI experts poached from Google, including John Giannandrea, former head of Google Brain, and Ruoming Pang, former head of AI speech recognition research at Google. These experts are reportedly working on advanced AI models that can process both text and visual inputs, potentially surpassing the capabilities of OpenAI's ChatGPT and similar projects.
Apple's decision to establish a dedicated AI lab in Europe is likely influenced by the recent acquisitions of AI startups FaceShift (VR) and Fashwall (image recognition). These acquisitions suggest Apple's interest in exploring the potential of AI in areas like virtual reality and image recognition.
While Apple has been cautious in its approach to AI, they are now making significant strides in the field. The upcoming iOS 18 update is expected to introduce AI-powered features across various apps, including Siri, Spotlight, Shortcuts, and Apple Music. These features are rumored to be powered by on-device LLMs, showcasing Apple's commitment to developing cutting-edge AI technology.
With a team of top AI experts and a dedicated research lab, Apple is poised to make significant contributions to the field of AI. Their cautious approach may have placed them behind some competitors, but their recent investments and advancements suggest that they are determined to catch up and become a major player in the AI landscape.