Apple Unveils Numerous AI Services at Annual WWDC
'Latecomer in AI,' Apple Accelerates Chase Against Competitors
Apple unveiled its first artificial intelligence (AI) system, 'Apple Intelligence.' It also announced a partnership with OpenAI to provide the generative AI service 'ChatGPT' on the iPhone. Compared to other big tech companies like Microsoft (MS), Google, and Meta, Apple had been trailing in AI competitiveness and was labeled a latecomer in AI. However, with the establishment of its own AI ecosystem and collaboration with OpenAI, Apple is now making a full-fledged push to catch up.
On the 10th (local time), Apple held its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in Cupertino, California, and introduced 'Apple Intelligence.'
Through Apple Intelligence, Apple's proprietary AI system, users of Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, and Mac will be able to conveniently utilize features like text summarization, original image generation, and the search for the most relevant data. For example, if a user says to their iPhone, "Play the podcast my mom sent me via text," Apple Intelligence will automatically access various applications on the user's iPhone to determine which podcast to play.
Apple emphasized that Apple Intelligence does not collect users' personal information separately.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said, "We are very pleased to introduce a new chapter in Apple innovation," adding, "Our unique approach combines generative AI with the user's personal context to provide useful intelligence." He continued, "Users can access this information in a completely private and secure way so they can focus on what matters most."
Apple also announced a partnership with OpenAI to provide ChatGPT functionality through its voice assistant, Siri. As a result, iPhone users will be able to use ChatGPT features for free starting at the end of the year. Some features will be available in 2025.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, who attended the Apple event, stated on the social networking service X (formerly Twitter), "We are very excited to collaborate with Apple," and added, "ChatGPT will be integrated into Apple devices in the second half of this year."
Apple also unveiled the new iPhone operating system (OS), iOS 18. iOS 18 enhances app protection features, including individual app locking, and adds new email and text messaging functions.
Additionally, ahead of the event, Apple revealed VisionOS 2, the latest software for its mixed reality (MR) headset, Vision Pro. With VisionOS 2, users can convert regular photos into three-dimensional (3D) images and update the interface with new gestures.
Apple will expand the Vision Pro, which is currently sold only in the United States, to eight countries globally. Pre-orders will begin on the 13th in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore, with an official launch on the 28th. In Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, pre-orders will start on the 28th, with a release scheduled for the 12th of the following month. South Korea is excluded from the launch countries.
Meanwhile, despite the unveiling of Apple Intelligence and the partnership with OpenAI, Apple's stock price closed down 1.91% in regular trading on the same day.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
