Apple holds staff-only summit amidst AI rave

Tech giant Apple Inc. held a staff-only summit this month at the Steve Jobs Theatre amidst the recent fuss on AI by the biggest tech companies in the world. Google, Microsoft, Baidu, Meta, and others have jumped on the AI ship by making public AI announcements in the past few months. This will be the first time an event will hold in person at the iconic theatre since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Apple has always prioritized its privacy approach in processing. The company has succeeded with this strategy by using minimal data and processing it on the device. However, most innovative AI technologies employ the cloud in processing. Therefore, Apple may need to restrategize due to a need for more data and processing capability.  

Users see Apple’s Siri behind Google and Alexa regarding virtual assistant capability. Apple, however, finds itself behind in the race for superior chatbot development as innovations like ChatGPT, Bard, and Bing are getting users’ attention.

The tech giant is reportedly working on an innovative solution to compete against Google and Bing. However, its famous commitment to data privacy could be a barrier to launching their search engine.

Apple aimed to assure its employees at the AI event this month that it is not lagging behind in technology. According to its AI chief, “machine learning is moving faster than ever,” and Apple has all it takes to stay ahead of the curve.

“While that may be Apple’s belief, I haven’t heard of anything — for consumers — that is a game changer coming out of the summit,” wrote in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter.

“For those wondering, I don’t believe Apple previewed a ChatGPT/New Bing competitor or anything of the sort.”

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman

Apple brewing new AI?

While Apple typically takes time to perfect its products, the fact that Apple’s World Developers Conference (WWDC) event focused on AI could suggest they feel like they’re lagging behind. As the world focuses on Apple’s new mixed-reality headset, some wonder if they’ll be able to remain an AI leader. With their current avoidance of the spotlight on artificial intelligence, can Apple quiet its critics and stay at the head of technology innovation?

The featured image was taken from Unsplash