Apple appears to finally be revealing some of its artificial intelligence efforts.
Apple researchers say they have developed a family of multimodal models – an AI system that can interpret and generate different types of data, such as text and images at the same time – called MM1. O report says its new methods boast “superior abilities” and can offer advanced reasoning and in-context learning to respond to text and images.
The announcement suggests how such a system could benefit future Apple products, including iPhones, Macs and its Siri voice assistant.
This comes as Apple is set to reveal several new AI features at its developer conference in June.
At the same time, however, Apple has reportedly reached a deal with Google that indicates that perhaps their own AI efforts are not yet quite where they would like them to be. According to a Bloomberg reportApple is interested in licensing and integrating Google's Gemini AI engine, which includes chatbots and other AI tools, into upcoming iPhones and iOS 18 features.
As more technology companies invest billions of dollars in developing and launching artificial intelligence, Apple has largely been left out of the conversation, with many other technology companies already making major advances in the space. A partnership with Google would catapult Apple into the growing AI arms race.
The report also said that Apple has had previous conversations with OpenAI, the company behind the viral ChatGPT chatbot.
Apple, Google and OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment.
In February, CEO Tim Cook suggested during an investor meeting that he sees “incredible advancement potential for generative AI, which is why we are currently investing significantly in this area.” But the company hasn't shared much about its vision for AI yet.
Behind the scenes, Apple has reportedly been working on its on-device generative AI capabilities and acquiring companies such as Canadian startup DarwinAI. It also has a Machine Learning Research division dedicated to advancing AI.
Angelo Zino, vice president and senior equity analyst at CFRA Research, said in a note to investors on Monday that the latest news “likely confirms that Apple's internal efforts are well behind those of OpenAI and Gemini.”
But he added that a potential deal “shows the company is serious about adding significant AI capabilities across iOS 18 this fall when it launches its new iPhones.”
Google may be well suited for the new AI partnership given its existing research partnership; the company has invested heavily to ensure that Google remains the default search engine option in Apple's Safari browser. However, this research arrangement between the two technology giants is being reviewed by antitrust authorities (who oversee the competitive environment).
In another note to investors on Monday, analysts at Wedbush Securities said they see the potential partnership as a win-win for both companies.
“It's a big win for Google to enter Apple's ecosystem and gain access to Cupertino's golden user base, with clearly a big license fee attached to that,” the analysts said.
It would also give Apple the foundation and technology to enhance the AI-powered iOS features currently in development.
The partnership could bring Gemini to nearly 2 billion Apple devices.
Wedbush also said the deal would be a huge “moment of validation” for Google’s generative AI position, considering Microsoft and OpenAI have captured early market share by commercializing some of their products.
Source: CNN Brasil
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
