With the next batch of software updates, Apple will bring its own AI smarts – known like Apple Intelligence — on iPhone, iPad and Mac, as well as OpenAI the newly announced ChatGPT model. The decision created a spark a flurry of controversial posts from SpaceX CEO Elon Musksimilar the recent explosion around Windows 11 AI tricks.
Speaking to reporters hours after CEO Tim Cook kicked off Apple’s annual developer conference, known as WWDC, at its Apple Park headquarters in California, senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi talked about the decision to work with OpenAI.
When Apple’s own Apple Intelligence models can’t process a specific voice (or typed) request, it suggests sending the information to OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4o. If you grant permission to share information with ChatGPT (it will be deleted after the request is processed), Siri can handle the task in the same window
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“We wanted to start with the best—and we think OpenAI’s ChatGPT and their new 4o model are the best choice for our users today,” the Apple executive told a packed audience in the Steve Jobs Theater.
All the usual ChatGPT tricks will be available from the Siri voice assistant, so you’ll be able to list ingredients and ask a generative artificial intelligence (AI) model to come up with a recipe or create a travel itinerary for an upcoming holiday or write computer code from a short prompt. None of these actions are currently possible with Apple Intelligence, so the company is happy to let OpenAI intervene.
When asked if Apple will look to partner with more AI companies in the future, software chief Craig Federighi believes that more AI models will be integrated soon. He said: “We think that ultimately people will have preferences for certain models that they want to use – maybe one that’s great for creative writing or one that they prefer for coding, so we want to allow users to choose the model of their choice and we will look forward to integrating with models such as Google Gemini, we will not announce anything at this time, but that is our direction.”
While Apple Intelligence handles a range of everyday tasks on your iPhone, iPad and Mac, because it’s the only model with artificial intelligence that can tap into the vast amount of data stored on your device and learn about you.
Instead of downloading from the Internet, Apple Intelligence is designed to draw context from apps like Calendar, Mail, and Messages. This information will be used to add context, so if you’re referring to a spouse or sibling in your request, Apple Intelligence will check your contacts and other corners of iOS to see who you’re talking about.
Apple Intelligence will also be the backbone of the supercharged new version of Siri.
The chatty assistant, which has been part of every iPhone since October 2011, can now adjust system settings, get information from multiple apps, and perform actions in iOS apps. Apple Intelligence was trained on a lot of training data.
Craig Federighi describes how the California company approached building its own AI model: “We’re doing it in a way where publishers can opt out of using their working data in training models. In addition, we’re licensing news archives, textbooks, stock photography, and everything related to these models.”
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In the future, we could see AI models trained on subject-specific data—with deep knowledge about the legal system, finance, medicine, or anything else. Siri could connect to these systems, just as she does with ChatGPT, to get a specific response.
Apple CEO Tim Cook welcomes developers from around the world to the stage at the annual WWDC event at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California
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Google Gemini is not one of those ultra-specific models, but it is an all-rounder that rivals the likes of ChatGPT. American search firm launched Gemini as a standalone Android app in the UK earlier this year.
Gemini can dream up Excel formulas, computer code, poetry and prose based on a short written prompt.
It can summarize and search for information from Gmail or Google Drive. Like the new Image Playground system powered by Apple Intelligence, Gemini can generate completely new images on the fly.
Google fans living in the United States can download a special Gemini app starting in February. In comparison, ChatGPT is available as an iPhone and Android app from mid-2023 in both countries.