Apple’s AI Push: The Future of Siri and Revolutionary AI Features

Apple’s Leap Into the AI Game

Apple Making Strides in the Field of AI

In the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence (AI), Apple has sometimes been viewed as a latecomer. While its competitors have been actively investing in AI technologies since the explosion of ChatGPT in late 2022, Apple seemed hesitant to fully dive into the AI realm. However, recent reports and rumors suggest that Apple has been secretly biding its time, waiting to make its move.

Collaborations and Tailored Models

Apple has been in discussions with OpenAI and Google, two powerhouses in the AI domain, to power some of its AI features. Additionally, Apple has been working on its own AI model called Ajax, indicating the company’s commitment to developing its AI capabilities.

Smaller Models and Efficient Processing

A key focus for Apple in improving its AI capabilities is enhancing Siri. The company recognizes that large language models have the potential to significantly enhance virtual assistants. To achieve a better Siri experience, Apple has been working on developing faster and more efficient models while ensuring widespread availability.

In the upcoming iOS 18, Apple plans to have all its AI features run on an on-device, fully offline model. To tackle the challenge of building multipurpose models on limited device resources, Apple’s researchers have devised innovative approaches. For instance, they have explored storing model data on solid-state drives (SSDs) instead of RAM, resulting in improved speed and efficiency. Additionally, Apple’s researchers have developed a compression system called EELBERT, which significantly reduces model size without sacrificing a significant amount of quality.

Enhancing Siri’s Capabilities

Apple’s AI research heavily revolves around Siri’s improvement, striving to make it remarkably proficient. By exploring wake word detection and better understanding of rare words, Apple aims to enhance Siri’s responsiveness and comprehension. Furthermore, researchers have developed systems like STEER and LLMs to improve conversational flow and reduce verbosity, making Siri more interactive and understandable.

AI’s Impact on Various Domains

Apple envisions AI technology as a powerful tool across multiple sectors. In the field of healthcare, AI could help individuals make sense of their biometric data collected through Apple devices. Apple’s research extends to AI’s potential as a creative tool, with projects like Keyframer that enable iterative design refinement and systems like MGIE that allow image edits by describing the desired changes.

Moreover, Apple’s interest in AI extends to music and audio. Apple’s researchers have explored methods to separate voices from instruments in songs, enabling possibilities like remixing songs within Apple’s ecosystem.

An Exciting Future with Ferret

One of Apple’s most ambitious AI projects is Ferret. Developed as a multi-modal language model, Ferret integrates instructions and visual focus to understand and provide information about the world around the user. Ferret’s potential applications include improving app navigation, answering questions about App Store ratings, and even assisting individuals with vision impairments.

Apple’s foray into AI is undoubtedly an exciting development. By leveraging its robust hardware capabilities and on-device AI, Apple has the potential to differentiate itself further from its competitors. Although these research initiatives are yet to be fully realized, anticipation is building for Apple’s announcements at its annual developer conference, WWDC. Apple is embracing AI wholeheartedly, and this could usher in transformative changes, potentially revolutionizing the iPhone experience. Siri might finally gain the recognition it deserves, standing as a testament to Apple’s AI journey.