Apple has reportedly acquired DarwinAI, a Canada-based startup targeted on artificial intelligence (AI). The deal was struck earlier this yr, and it’s believed that it may enhance the tech big’s AI ambitions. In February, CEO Tim Cook revealed through the firm’s quarterly incomes calls that it was spending a “tremendous amount of time and effort” on AI. Not disclosing any particulars, he additionally hinted that a few of these developments might be revealed later this yr. Notably, reviews have prompt that the iOS 18 replace may add new AI capabilities to the iPhone.
According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Cupertino-based tech behemoth not solely purchased DarwinAI but additionally employed lots of its workers. Gurman additionally added, citing unnamed sources, that the brand new hires have joined Apple’s AI division. It is believed that the acquisition occurred just lately because the report hints that the deal might be introduced formally later.
The co-founder and Chief Scientist of the startup, Alexander Wong, has reportedly additionally joined Apple as a Director of Machine Learning Research, the corporate’s AI division. Responding to Bloomberg’s question into the matter, the iPhone maker mentioned it “buys smaller technology companies from time to time”. However, it didn’t reveal the aim and the plans for this specific acquisition.
DarwinAI, as per its LinkedIn web page, supplied “manufacturers an end-to-end solution to improve product quality and increase production efficiency.” It is alleged to have developed an AI system that may visually examine elements within the manufacturing course of. Wong had additionally reportedly invented a method to make neural community fashions smaller and sooner. It might be that Apple may utilise the identical expertise to convey on-device AI fashions and options to its units.
While Cook hinted that AI was a serious focus for the corporate in 2024, he didn’t reveal what precisely the corporate is planning. Some rumours have prompt that Apple might be engaged on its native basis mannequin known as AppleGPT. Other rumoured options embrace an enhanced model of Siri that may perform as a chatbot much like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, AI-generated playlists for Apple Music, AI integration into Apple’s productiveness apps equivalent to Pages and Keynote, and extra. It can also be reported that the iOS 18 replace, which is predicted to reach later this yr alongside the iPhone 16 collection, may convey a number of new AI options for Apple smartphones.
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