All signs point to the futureappleThe equipment will be used extensively from the second half of this yearGenerative AIAlthough the specific application methods are still uncertain, there are many signs in the industry that the Cupertino technology giant is actively deploying in this field.
According to Bloomberg, Apple will release aFirstAI applications will be able to run locally without an internet connection, which is consistent with previous speculation inferred from Apple's job openings.
Currently, the mostFamousGenerative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Bard rely on cloud processing. But tech giants have begun to produce devices equipped with powerful neural processing units (NPUs) specifically designed to handle such workloads. Local AI that does not require data transmission fits in with Apple's consistent marketing strategy of focusing on privacy.
Apple also recently acquired Datakalab, a Paris-based AI company that specializes in image analysis and algorithmic compression, which could be related to Apple's plans to launch a multimodal language model that can interpret and count objects in images.
Although Apple has been slow to make progress in artificial intelligence, its technology in this area is expected to undergo a dramatic transformation with the launch of a new generation of iPhones and Macs later this year. iPhone 16 and iOS 18 are expected to be unveiled at WWDC in June.firstIt will be unveiled, and the Mac product line equipped with the new M4 processor will be launched from the end of 2024 to 2025.
It is reported that the A18 processor of iPhone 16 may introduce Apple's first processor in many yearsfirstMajor NPU upgrade, from 16 cores to 32 cores. Its performance is expected to significantly surpass the iPhone 15 Pro and Mac Studio. As for the NPU upgrade of the M4 processor, there is less information, but leaks show that Apple will focus on improving local AI processing capabilities. These products may meet the "next generation AI PC" standards recently defined by Microsoft and Intel.
Apple is accelerating its pace to adopt generative artificial intelligence technology on a large scale in the second half of this year. The significant increase in local AI processing power will bring new application scenarios and experiences to its devices.