Apple Bolsters AI Capabilities; Recruits Google Experts and Dives into Generative AI
Summary:
Apple is reportedly expanding its AI and machine learning team by hiring specialists from Google. Besides building elite AI teams, Apple has also incorporated two AI startups in Zurich, leading to the establishment of a secretive research hub, "Vision Lab". The tech giant has been relatively quiet in developing Large Language Models (LLMs), unlike its competitors Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and OpenAI. Despite the quiet, Apple recently launched its Open-source Efficient Language Models (OpenELM). The focus is reportedly shifting to integrate generative AI into mobile devices. CEO Tim Cook confirmed the advent of generative AI software features in iOS later this year.
Apple is reportedly enticing specialists from Google as it expands its cadre of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning professionals. As per information by the Financial Times (FT) on April 30, Apple has been embarking on a "hiring spree" over the past year, mainly drawing talent from Google. Apple has allegedly recruited about 36 AI experts from Google since 2018. Besides constructing elite teams of AI professionals, Apple has also absorbed two local AI startups in Zurich, Switzerland. This move resulted in the establishment of a secretive research facility in the region, known as "Vision Lab." According to the FT, the Zurich personnel have become instrumental in Apple's exploration of advanced AI technologies that fuel competitive services like OpenAI's ChatGPT. However, local residents claim that the lab is quite unobtrusive, with some even unaware of Apple's activities in the region. Apple seems to be adopting a more assertive stance in its AI expansion. Even as Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and OpenAI have all been vigorously pursuing the development of Large Language Models (LLMs), Apple has been relatively low-profile over the past year. This trend continues despite Apple's market share dwindling since the beginning of the year, as Q2 financial outcomes for Microsoft and Google boasted significant rises in revenue and profits driven by their breakthroughs and investments in AI. On April 24, though, Apple unveiled its Open-source Efficient Language Models (OpenELM), comprising four compact language models on the Hugging Face library, designated for text-oriented operations like drafting emails. Apple will reportedly emphasize integrating generative AI into its mobile gadgets, making AI chatbots and applications operate through the iPhone's inbuilt hardware rather than data centers and associated cloud services. In February 2024, Apple's CEO Tim Cook affirmed the impending introduction of generative AI software elements to iOS and other Apple platforms later that year. Reports on April 27 suggested that Apple and OpenAI had entered into serious talks regarding the inclusion of generative AI technologies into iOS applications. Talks with Google were also hinted at in the same context. Although nothing is confirmed yet, these developments indicate Apple's shift towards AI.
Published At
4/30/2024 12:32:46 PM
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