Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed in an interview with the Evening Standard that the tech giant is ramping up its recruitment efforts in artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop generative AI products, according to Appleinsider. .
Cook pointed out that AI features are now integrated across Apple's product range. For instance, the Apple Watch includes fall detection, collision detection, atrial fibrillation detection, and electrocardiograms, showcasing some of the most typical applications of the technology.
Apple is currently researching a product similar to ChatGPT to enhance product functionality and user experience.
While tech behemoths like Microsoft, Google, and Meta have been fervently investing in generative AI, Apple's stance on the technology has been notably reserved.
Earlier in the year, when ChatGPT gained widespread attention across various industries, media outlets had asked Cook for his opinion on the technology. He responded by noting its intriguing potential but emphasized the need to address safety concerns.
With regulatory frameworks for generative AI being introduced in various regions and tech giants like Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google implementing safety measures, the technology has seen significant growth, especially in enterprise applications.
On June 7, during an interview with Good Morning America, Cook revisited the topic of generative AI, like ChatGPT. He mentioned having personally experienced ChatGPT's capabilities and reiterated that while Apple is keen on the technology's practical applications, safety remains paramount. Both officials and companies need to ensure the technology's security.
In fact, since late May, Apple has been actively recruiting professionals in the field of generative AI on its official website.
The positions include generative AI research scientists, application researchers, machine learning engineers, visual generative modelers, multimodal engineers, and NLP product managers.
Apple aims to be part of the generative AI wave but is cautious about potential data breaches and security issues. As a result, in-house development has emerged as the best option.
Subsequently, on July 20, Bloomberg reported that Apple is internally developing a ChatGPT-like product, positioning itself in fierce competition with tech giants like Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, and Meta in the generative AI arena.
According to Apple engineers, the company has developed a large language model codenamed "Ajax" based on Google's JAX framework. They've also created a generative AI chatbot named "Apple GPT" capable of auto-generating text and summarizing content. Due to security concerns, Apple GPT's deployment was temporarily halted and was only made available to a select group of Apple employees.
As the safety issues surrounding generative AI are effectively addressed, Apple is expected to increase its investment and application in the technology. It's anticipated that in the near future, Apple's version of ChatGPT will be integrated into products like Siri, iPhone, and Apple Watch.
