It's no secret that Apple is late to the field in generative artificial intelligence, with ChatGPT and competing products from Microsoft and Google already on the market. However, the company's entry into the artificial intelligence field could come soon. On Thursday, Bloomberg reported that Apple acquired Canadian startup Darwin AI earlier this year.
DarwinAI is best known for its efforts to make AI systems smaller and faster. The company also worked on AI technology to visually inspect parts during manufacturing. According to Bloomberg, Apple has already integrated dozens of Darwin AI employees into the company, including co-founder Alexander Wong.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment and has not yet announced any acquisitions, but it told Bloomberg that it “occasionally acquires smaller technology companies.”
However, all the signs are there. DarwinAI's Social His Media His accounts and official website are closed, and according to Wong's LinkedIn account, he joined Apple in January 2024 as Director of Machine Learning Research. I understand this.
Apple's DarwinAI plans
But the big question is what Apple plans to do with DarwinAI. According to MacRumors, Apple has acquired 32 AI startups throughout his 2023, making DarwinAI the latest in a long list of similar acquisitions. Other than Apple GPT, an AI chatbot that Apple reportedly uses internally, the company has been tight-lipped about its AI plans.
However, the company has teased possible AI-related plans. CEO Tim Cook told investors during a quarterly earnings call in February that Apple has “some things we're really excited about that we'll talk about later this year.” ” he said. On the same call, Cook said Apple's approach was “always do the work and then talk about the work, and we're not going to get in front of ourselves, so we're going to stick to that.”
For now, the company's use of AI in its existing products is limited to Apple Vision Pro and a few AI-powered features in iOS 17, including AI smarts in the iPhone camera and the ability to digitally clone audio. . Given DarwinAI's experience with making AI systems smaller and faster, our educated guess is that the company's technology will help add more AI capabilities to iOS 18.
Apple's next OS is expected to be significantly upgraded than iOS 17. Cook has already teased AI and generative AI, and there are also rumors that Apple has directed its engineers to create as many AI features as possible. If the iPhone 16 ends up being a minor upgrade, as some rumors suggest, iOS 18 could even become a bigger deal for Apple in 2024. More details will almost certainly be revealed at Apple's WWDC in June. Apple usually previews the next version there. iOS.