Apple GPT: What We Know About Apple's Work on Generative AI – MacRumors
With the explosive popularity of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, there have been rumors that Apple is working on its own AI product, and that some kind of “Apple GPT” artificial intelligence bot could launch in the future.
This guide highlights everything we know about Apple’s experiments with AI, and it will be updated regularly as new rumors come out.
Apple’s AI chief John Giannandrea is leading development on large language models within Apple, and Giannandrea reports directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook. Giannandrea established a team that works on conversational AI four years ago, and work has since ramped up.
For the last several months, Apple has been testing an “Apple GPT” rival that could compete with ChatGPT. According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, work on AI is a priority for Apple, with the company designing an “Ajax” framework for large language models.
Apple has an internal chatbot that some engineers have been referring to as “Apple GPT,” but Apple would not, of course, ever use that naming for a consumer product. Apple employees need special permission to use the chatbot, and its output cannot be used to develop new product features for customers. It is used for product prototyping and it is able to answer questions about the data that was used to train it.
Ajax is said to be more capable than the prior-generation ChatGPT 3.5, and it has been trained on more than 200 billion parameters. As of September 2023, OpenAI’s newer models are allegedly more powerful than Ajax.
Apple reportedly does not have a “clear strategy” for how it will create a generative AI product for consumers. Apple is experimenting with Siri enhancements, software that generates videos and images, and multimodal AI technology that works with images, videos, and text.
Apple is said to be spending millions of dollars a day on conversational AI research as training language models requires a lot of hardware. Apple is on track to spend more than $4 billion on AI servers in 2024.
Apple’s work on generative AI could eventually be incorporated into its Siri voice assistant. Apple in February 2023 held an AI summit and briefed employees on its large language model work.
Because of the way Siri is built, it may take Apple quite a bit of time to update its database to support new capabilities. Former Siri engineer John Burkey told The New York Times that Siri’s “cumbersome design” means that adding new phrases requires rebuilding the Siri database, which can take up to six weeks each time, while more complicated features like search tools can take upwards of a year.
There are also privacy concerns that Apple needs to contend with to bring generative AI capabilities to Siri. Apple has always been more cautious than its competitors, putting privacy ahead of functionality, a decision that has caused Siri to lag behind Alexa, Google Assistant, and other voice-based personal assistant options.
The Information suggests that Apple is aiming to create a feature that would let Siri automate multi-step tasks, automatically performing tasks that are accomplished with Shortcuts today.
According to Bloomberg, Apple is aiming for a smarter version of Siri that’s deeply integrated with AI. Apple is planning to update the way that Siri interacts with the Messages app, allowing users to field complex questions and auto-complete sentences more effectively.
Apple is rumored to be planning to add AI to as many Apple apps as possible. In Apple Music, for example, Apple could use AI to create auto-generated playlists, while in Xcode, AI support could help developers write and troubleshoot code.
In Pages and Keynote, AI could be used for writing and creating slide decks, while Apple’s internal customer support apps could be updated with generative AI to assist with AppleCare.
Apple employees have been banned from using ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and other artificial intelligence tools. Apple is concerned that AI tools could leak confidential company data.
The U.S. government, healthcare institutions, and banks have also prevented employees from using ChatGPT because of similar fears. Tech companies like Verizon, Google, Samsung, and others have banned generative AI tools too.
Almost every major tech company has some kind of AI product in the works. In addition to OpenAI’s popular ChatGPT chatbot, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have all adopted generative AI for various purposes.
Apple is already using artificial intelligence and machine learning for a long list of functions in its products. AI is used for almost everything, with a small sampling below.
Apple’s devices have dedicated Neural Engines inside specifically for powering machine learning capabilities.
Back in May 2023, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the potential of artificial intelligence is “very interesting,” but he said there are a “number of issues that need to be sorted” with the technology. He explained that it is “very important to be deliberate and thoughtful” when deciding how and when AI should be used.
Cook has also said that AI and machine learning are “core fundamental technologies integral to virtually every product” that Apple has created, and that AI work is “absolutely critical” to the company. Cook has confirmed that Apple has been experimenting with generative AI “for years.”
Both The Information and analyst Jeff Pu claim that Apple will have some kind of generative AI feature available on the iPhone and iPad around late 2024, which is when iOS 18 will be coming out.
Pu said in October that Apple is building a few hundred AI servers in 2023, with more to come in 2024. Apple will reportedly offer a combination of cloud-based AI and AI with on-device processing.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in August that there is “no sign” of generative AI technology coming in 2024, and he claimed that Apple’s work on generative AI is “significantly behind its competitors.”
Have questions about Apple GPT or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
Our comprehensive guide highlighting every major new addition in iOS 17, plus how-tos that walk you through using the new features.
AirDrop over the internet, Apple Music favorites and playlist art, StandBy mode and Action button tweaks, and more.
Get the most out your iPhone 15 with our complete guide to all the new features.
A deep dive into new features in macOS Sonoma, big and small.
A new 24-inch iMac is in an “advanced state of development” and could launch as soon as late 2023. A larger model may also be in the works.
The Apple Vision Pro AR/VR headset is set to launch in early 2024. It features dual 4K displays, gesture tracking, an M2 chip, and a $3,499 price tag.
M3 models in 13.6″ and 15.3″ sizes.
Apple’s cheapest MacBook Pro should get a speed bump to a new M3 chip.
2 days ago by Joe Rossignol
3 days ago by Tim Hardwick
4 days ago by Tim Hardwick
4 days ago by Tim Hardwick
4 days ago by Tim Hardwick
MacRumors attracts a broad audience of both consumers and professionals interested in the latest technologies and products. We also boast an active community focused on purchasing decisions and technical aspects of the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac platforms.
