Apple is revolutionizing its Siri voice assistant and operating systems with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, marking a significant stride in the AI race.
At its annual developers’ conference on Monday, Apple unveiled the Siri enhancement alongside various new features. This upgrade is part of a comprehensive personalized AI system named “Apple Intelligence,” designed to streamline navigation across Apple devices.
The integration of ChatGPT into iPhone and Mac operating systems, through a collaboration with OpenAI, will not only enhance Siri but also improve other tools such as text and content generation. A test version is expected to be available this autumn.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, emphasized that this advancement would elevate Apple’s products to unprecedented levels during the Worldwide Developers Conference at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. Despite this, Apple’s share price dipped by 1.91% following the announcement.
A Double-Edged Sword?
Elon Musk, owner of Tesla and Twitter/X, criticized the partnership, raising concerns over data security and threatening to ban iPhones from his companies. Musk stated on X, “Apple has no clue what’s actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They’re selling you down the river.” Apple has not responded to these allegations.
Samsung also took a jab at Apple, mocking the announcement on X with a post that read, “Adding ‘Apple’ doesn’t make it new or groundbreaking. Welcome to AI.”
The primary challenge for Apple remains whether these new AI tools will enable it to catch up with competitors who have been quicker to adopt AI technology. Apple, which was surpassed by Microsoft as the world’s most valuable company in January and again by Nvidia in early June, faces pressure to innovate.
Inside ‘Apple Intelligence’
Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, commented that while “Apple Intelligence” might reassure investors, the ChatGPT integration could expose deeper issues. Unlike a standalone product, “Apple Intelligence” will be embedded in every app and Apple product, enhancing functionalities from message drafting to navigating appointments.
Comparable to Microsoft’s AI assistant Copilot, “Apple Intelligence” will not require additional payments to activate. Siri, acquired by Apple in 2010, now features a refreshed interface and a more conversational approach to improve user interaction.
During the keynote, Apple highlighted the security measures of “Apple Intelligence.” Some processing will be conducted on the device, with more demanding tasks sent to the cloud without storing data, ensuring user privacy.
Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, stated, “The system puts powerful generative models right at the core of your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It draws on your personal context to give you intelligence that’s most helpful and relevant for you, and it protects your privacy at every step.”
The Significance of the OpenAI and Apple Partnership
Apple’s integration of ChatGPT had been anticipated but is notable for a company that typically guards its products closely. This move suggests Apple’s recognition of ChatGPT’s current dominance in AI technology.
Other tech giants like Google and Microsoft have faced criticism over errors in their AI products. Apple’s cautious approach, previously restricting app downloads and web browsers outside its ecosystem, is shifting under regulatory pressure from the EU.
In addition to the AI overhaul, Apple announced the UK release of its mixed reality headset, Vision Pro, on 12 July, following its US debut in February.
Other new features announced include:
- Sending texts via satellite, scheduling messages for later, controlling AirPods Pro with head gestures, a dedicated cross-device password app. the ability to hide or lock apps with Face ID or passcodes.
Apple’s AI advancements signal a bold step towards integrating more sophisticated, user-friendly technology while maintaining a strong emphasis on privacy and security.
