Tim Cook has spent the last few months preparing the Apple faithful for the company's first foray into generative artificial intelligence (AI), and has repeatedly said that the company is about to launch its own AI tool to compete with companies like ChatGPT. Now, the Apple boss has just given another big clue as to what we can expect to see.
Speaking at Apple's annual shareholder meeting (via MacRumors), Cook claimed that the company will “break new ground” in the field of generative AI, and this wasn't some vague promise that we'll have to wait years for to be made. reality. , as Cook said, will happen this year.
In early February 2024, Apple's CEO said there was “a huge opportunity for Apple with generative AI.” On his most recent call, he was equally optimistic when he announced that “We believe it will unlock transformative opportunities for our users.”
Of course, Cook didn't go into detail about what exactly those opportunities will be; No doubt he'd prefer to wait until Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June to reveal it. But there are many areas where we expect generative AI to make its mark on Apple products.
Coming soon to iOS 18
Just as Microsoft has incorporated its Copilot AI into its suite of local apps, we expect Apple to do something similar with its own AI model. Apps like Pages and Numbers could get a virtual assistant to make your work easier, while Apple Music could get a virtual DJ similar to what Spotify currently offers. This is all speculation at the moment, but it's not difficult to see how Apple could follow its rivals in these areas.
However, there's a different rumor that has a little more corroboration: AI could soon improve Siri. Apple's assistant has been lagging behind its competitors for years, and generative AI could give it the much-needed shot in the arm. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who previously leaked very precise information about Apple's future plans, Siri could get a “big update” with this year's iOS 18, which could be “one of the most important iOS updates, if not the most important, of the last century”. the history of the company.”
That means Apple has a chance to finally catch up to its rivals when it comes to generative AI and fix years of poor Siri performance. With just a few months to go until iOS 18 debuts at WWDC, we're waiting with bated breath.
