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☆ Apple's software chiefs decided they needed to upgrade Siri after spending weeks testing out ChatGPT themselves
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple executives knew they needed to upgrade Siri after they started using ChatGPT. The company's software chiefs spent weeks using the OpenAI chatbot before making the decision. AdvertisementApple executives realized their digital assistant Siri badly needed an upgrade after they began testing OpenAI's chatbot, ChatGPT. Unlike most tech giants, Apple has remained relatively coy about how it intends to compete in the field of AI. The Sam Altman-led AI company has long been on Apple's radar, with Cook admitting in an interview with Good Morning America last year that he, too, uses ChatGPT.

Persons: Siri, —, Craig Federighi, John Giannandrea, Giannandrea, Tim Cook ., Apple didn't, Cook, hasn't, Sam Altman Organizations: Apple, Developers, Service, New York Times, BI, Developers Conference, coy, Microsoft, Meta, Google, Financial Times, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Street, OpenAI, Bloomberg, Good Morning America Locations: Cupertino

Apple’s top software executives decided early last year that Siri, the company’s virtual assistant, needed a brain transplant. The decision came after the executives Craig Federighi and John Giannandrea spent weeks testing OpenAI’s new chatbot, ChatGPT. Introduced in 2011 as the original virtual assistant in every iPhone, Siri had been limited for years to individual requests and had never been able to follow a conversation. The realization that new technology had leapfrogged Siri set in motion the tech giant’s most significant reorganization in more than a decade. race, Apple has made generative A.I.

Persons: Siri, Craig Federighi, John Giannandrea Organizations: Apple Locations: San Francisco, New York

☆ Tim Cook is finally talking about AI on his own terms
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Everyone has been waiting for Tim Cook to talk about Apple's foray into AI. The comments come as Apple's Big Tech rivals benefit from their early moves in the technology. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementIt's been a long time coming, but Tim Cook is finally talking about artificial intelligence on his own terms. CEO Satya Nadella described the period as one in which the company "moved from talking about AI to applying AI at scale."

Persons: Tim Cook, —, It's, Mark Zuckerberg, Josh Edelson, Satya Nadella, Mark Gurman, John Giannandrea, Craig Federighi, Cook, Christoph Dernbach, Goldman, Mike Ng, We've Organizations: Big Tech, Service, Apple, Apple's Big Tech, —, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Getty, Vision, Apple Vision Pro, Huawei Locations: AFP, China

☆ Apple reportedly abandoned a secretive project that would have made the Apple Watch compatible with Android phones
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Apple reportedly considered making the Apple Watch compatible with Androids under a secret project. The project was reportedly abandoned over concerns it could impact iPhone sales, Bloomberg reported. Apple previously had similar concerns around making iMessage for Android, with an exec saying it would hurt Apple more than help. AdvertisementAdvertisementIf you buy one Apple product, Apple wants you to be tempted to buy another — and that's why we might never get an Android-compatible Apple Watch. You need an iPhone to set up an Apple Watch, for example.

Persons: —, Apple, smartwatch, Apple's, Craig Federighi, Phil Schiller Organizations: Apple, Apple Watch, Bloomberg, Android, Service, Epic Games Locations: Brazil, India, Indonesia, Iran, Turkey

☆ Apple, caught by surprise in generative AI boom, to spend $1 billion per year to catch up: Report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Jake Piazza | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Apple is on track to spend $1 billion per year on developing its generative artificial intelligence products, Bloomberg reported. The spending comes as the company plays catch-up to some competitors who have already debuted new AI products and features, such as Google , Microsoft and Amazon , according to the report Sunday. Apple uses AI in its products but hasn't launched a generative AI product along the lines of OpenAI's ChatGPT or Google Bard. For the latter, Apple would use AI to create auto-generated playlists like Spotify does via its partnership with OpenAI. The company is also exploring using AI in Xcode to assist app developers, according to the report.

Persons: Tim Cook, hasn't, Google Bard, Apple GPT, Siri, John Giannandrea, Craig Federighi, Eddy, wasn't Organizations: Apple, Bloomberg, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Ajax, OpenAI

☆ Apple's been relatively quiet about AI — but it's been pouring billions into research, and that could mean a 'smarter' Siri
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Sebastian Cahill | Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Since the AI boom began, Apple has been quieter about incorporating the new technology than its peers. To catch up, the company is planning updates to Siri that incorporate AI. His employees are reworking a "smarter " Siri that uses them, per Bloomberg. AdvertisementAdvertisementBut Apple's lag doesn't mean they haven't been thinking of AI before this year: "We've been doing research across a wide range of AI technologies, including generative AI, for years," Cook told Reuters in August. AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd to be sure, while Apple's AI push may have been muted, it is predominantly a hardware company.

Persons: Siri, —, John Giannandrea, Craig Federighi —, Per Forbes, hasn't, Apple, it's, Tim Cook, We've, Cook Organizations: Apple, Bloomberg, Service, Meta, Microsoft, Google, Worldwide, Reuters, Ajax —, Ajax

☆ DuckDuckGo CEO testified that Apple was 'really serious' about replacing Google as default for private browsing
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Apple once considered replacing Google as its default search engine in private browsing mode on its products in favor of DuckDuckGo, according to recently unsealed testimony by the rival search CEO. DuckDuckGo first got a response from Apple about its idea to become the default search engine in private browsing in 2016, Weinberg said. DuckDuckGo claims its search engine greatly reduces the amount of tracking that is still possible in other search engines, even while on private browsing mode. DuckDuckGo presented Apple executives with data about what Apple users expect from private browsing mode, which Weinberg said he'd thought "was pretty compelling." DuckDuckGO estimated its market share "would increase multiple times over" just by becoming the default in private browsing mode.

Persons: Gabriel Weinberg, Apple, Weinberg, Apple's, DuckDuckGo, Craig Federighi, he'd, Adler, John Giannandrea, Giannandrea, Apple didn't Organizations: DuckDuckGo Inc, Washington , D.C, Google, CNBC, Department, Apple, Microsoft, Bing, Worldwide Developers Conference, Samsung, Mozilla, Opera, YouTube Locations: Washington ,, Cupertino , California, Cupertino

☆ iOS 17 release: See what’s new in iPhone features
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

iPhone users can update to iOS17 starting Monday by clicking on the Software Update section in the phone’s Settings app. Here are some of the buzziest and most-anticipated new features that iPhone users can expect from iOS17. This allows iPhone users to design a custom image that will show up when making calls. iPhone users will also be able to personalize their contact card “poster” with a photo or memoji of choice. iPhone users will also now receive predictive text recommendations in-line as they type, making adding entire words or completing sentences as easy as tapping the space bar.

Persons: iOS17, FaceTime, Facetime, Hey, Siri ”, “ Hey Siri, Siri, “, Shaquille O’Neal, “ Siri, Apple, Craig Federighi, TS6YzyXi30, Greg Joswiak Organizations: CNN, Conference, “ Locations: iOS17

☆ Apple tests generative AI tools to rival OpenAI's ChatGPT - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 19 (Reuters) - Apple (AAPL.O) is working on artificial intelligence (AI) offerings similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, sending its shares up as much as 2% to a record high. Apple has, however, subtly pushed advanced AI in some of its products such as Apple Photos, on device texting, and the recently launched mixed-reality headset Vision Pro. Apple's core AI product, voice assistant Siri, has also stagnated over the years. The Bloomberg report said several teams are involved in the latest AI effort, which is led by John Giannandrea, the company's head of machine learning and AI, and Craig Federighi, Apple's top software engineering executive. Employees say the tool essentially replicates Bard, ChatGPT and Bing AI, and works as a web application.

Persons: Google's Bard, Apple, Siri, John Giannandrea, Craig Federighi, ChatGPT, Bing, Yuvraj Malik, Devika Organizations: Bloomberg, Microsoft, Nvidia, Apple, Employees, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Mark Zuckerberg is shredded now. But Apple exec Craig Federighi can shred on the guitar.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

While it received a lot of buzz, so did a surprising guitar solo from Apple exec Craig Federighi. In the pre-recorded video clip from the WWDC keynote stream, Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, is shown wearing a leather jacket and holding a triple-neck electric guitar. Gruber, who runs the Apple-focused blog DaringFireball.net, was also joined by Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing. In a video clip from the interview, Joswiak pulls out an electric blue guitar from behind two chairs — prompting laughter and cheers from the crowd. Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg, for instance, has started competing in jiu-jitsu matches, and gained a shredded physique as a result.

Persons: Craig Federighi, Federighi, Apple's, John Gruber's, Gruber, Greg Joswiak, Joswiak, Craig, Mark Zuckerberg Organizations: Apple, company's, WWDC, YouTube

☆ 10 Things in Tech: Amazon's AI scramble
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Hallam Bullock | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The OpenAI CEO says he is losing sleep over the fear that "we already have done something really bad by launching ChatGPT." When ChatGPT launched, Amazon managers asked staff for ideas on how to leverage the chatbot at work. "Amazon must be really scared about being late on all of this," an Amazon employee told Insider. Odds and ends:Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, showed off his guitar skills at Apple's WWDC conference this year. During the company's Worldwide Developers Conference, Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, stole the show with a guitar solo.

Persons: Hallam Bullock, Victor Frankenstein, Sam Altman, ChatGPT, Eugene Kim, Insider's Ben Bergman, We've, we've, Thrasio, doesn't, Read, Craig Federighi, Apple’s, Apple's, Dad, Jack Sommers Organizations: Amazon, ChatGPT, Getty, Elon, SpaceX, SpaceX's Starlink, Tech, LA Tech, The Washington Post, Netflix, Apple, Conference Locations: London

☆ Apple exec shows off his guitar skills, proves his guitar solo in pre-recorded event was legit
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

While it received a lot of buzz, so did a surprising guitar solo from Apple exec Craig Federighi. Federighi demonstrated his guitar skills again during an interview this week. But a guitar solo from one Apple executive during the livestream may have stolen the show. In the pre-recorded video clip from the WWDC keynote stream, Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, is shown wearing a leather jacket and holding a triple-neck electric guitar. Gruber, who runs the Apple-focused blog DaringFireball.net, was also joined by Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing.

Persons: Craig Federighi, Federighi, Apple's, John Gruber's, Gruber, Greg Joswiak, Joswiak, Craig Organizations: Apple, company's, WWDC, YouTube

☆ Apple Knows You Didn’t Mean to Type ‘Ducking’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Callie Holtermann | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“In those moments where you just want to type a ducking word, well, the keyboard will learn it, too,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president for software engineering. The update was announced on the first day of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, where the company also introduced its Vision Pro headset. The company said the new keyboard features would be available as part of the iOS 17 software package expected to arrive later this year. Autocorrect will use a type of neural network called a transformer model to recognize iPhone users’ most frequently-typed words and offer predictive text, according to Apple. Transformer models, which are at the heart of artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT, analyze large amounts of text for patterns.

Persons: ”, Craig Federighi, Apple’s Organizations: Apple, “, Apple’s

☆ Apple's new iOS 17 will warn you if someone tries to send unsolicited nudes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Apple's new iOS 17 has a feature that aims to prevent people from seeing unsolicited nude imagery. The company said in a press release the update was called a Sensitive Content Warning. Apple's new iOS 17 has a feature that will warn people when someone attempts to send them unsolicited nudes. The new iOS 17 was announced on Monday, alongside Apple's new mixed-reality headset, the Vision Pro. Apple's Journal app is aimed at helping users write journal entries, using machine learning to offer personalized suggestions for entries.

Persons: Apple, we've, Craig Federighi, Apple's Organizations: Vision, Amazon, Apple

☆ Apple demoed one of its new features by displaying a downright weird message about finding a bunch of raccoons hidden in a basement
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Apple unveiled a bunch of new features at its WWDC on Monday. That included "Live Voicemail" which delivers a transcript so users can decide if they want to pick up a call. One example of the tech featured a man preparing to bathe some raccoons he discovered in the basement. While most people were focused on the Vision Pro headset and its enormous pricetag, Apple unveiled a host of updates to its existing products. But it definitely suits the advertised tone of an urgent phone call, and one imaginative copywriter has brought more eyes to this feature that might've otherwise gone under the radar.

Persons: Apple, –, Craig Federighi, Apple's, Nico Schröder –, Soren Iverson, Nico Organizations: Apple

☆ Apple to sell Vision Pro AR headset for triple Meta's top-line price
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Stephen Nellis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/4] People use cameras as Apple's Vision Pro headsets are on display at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California, U.S. June 5, 2023. Apple's headset will be available early next year in the U.S. with more countries coming later in 2024. The Vision Pro has two hours of use with an external battery, which Apple said would reduce the weight on the user's head. Investors and tech fans alike are focused on how much Apple's view of the virtual reality market overlaps with Meta's. In addition to Meta, Sony Group Corp (6758.T) and ByteDance-owned Pico both recently released virtual reality devices.

Persons: Loren Elliott CUPERTINO, Apple, Alan Dye, Tim Cook, Walt Disney's, Mark Zuckerberg, there's, John Ternus, Apple's, Craig Federighi, Stephen Nellis, Yuvraj Malik, Dawn Chmielewski, Katie Paul, Peter Henderson, Aditya Soni, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Developers, REUTERS, Apple Inc, Pro, Apple, Vision, Reuters, Adobe, Microsoft, Unity, Meta, Sony Group Corp, Pico, Research, IDC, Mac Pro, Mac, Intel, Thomson Locations: Cupertino , California, U.S, Loren Elliott CUPERTINO , California, Bengaluru, Dawn, Los Angeles, New York

☆ About ducking time: Apple to tweak iPhone autocorrect function
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 5 (Reuters) - One of the most notable happenings at Apple's event for developers on Monday is likely the iPhone maker's tweak that will keep its autocorrect feature from annoyingly correcting one of the most common expletives to "ducking." "In those moments where you just want to type a ducking word, well, the keyboard will learn it, too," said Craig Federighi, Apple's software chief. Apart from the texting tweak, the company had a lot on its agenda - an expensive new mixed-reality headset, details on a revamping of its desktop and a laptop revamp. Apple shares hit an all-time record Monday, putting the company's market valuation just shy of $3 trillion, which would also be a record. Of course, iPhone users have always had the option to turn off the autocorrect feature on their phones, which would allow its foul-mouthed users to be as profane as they want.

Persons: Craig Federighi, Stephen Nellis, David Gaffen, Anna Driver Organizations: Apple, Thomson

☆ Apple just revealed a new feature that transforms your iPhone into a smart display for your nightstand — and Amazon should be worried
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Cadie Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple announced a new iPhone feature Monday called StandBy that will roll out with iOS17 this fall. StandBy basically transforms your iPhone into a horizontal smart display when your phone is charging. You will also be able to play music and use Siri when your phone is in StandBy mode. The biggest iPhone is the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which has a display size of 6.7 inches. While it's too soon to know whether the new iPhone feature will have an impact on sales of Amazon's Echo Show, it's clear the device certainly has some new competition.

Persons: Apple iPhones, Apple, Craig Federighi, Apple's, Siri, it's Organizations: Apple, Echo

☆ Apple's practical approach to A.I.: No bragging, just features
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

On Monday during Apple's annual developer's conference, WWDC, the company subtly touted just how much work it's doing in state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and machine learning. As Microsoft , Google , and startups like OpenAI embraced cutting-edge machine learning technologies like chatbots and generative AI, Apple appeared to be sitting on the sidelines. But on Monday, Apple announced several significant AI features, including an improved iPhone autocorrect based on a machine learning program using a transformer language model, which is the same technology underpinning ChatGPT. Unlike its rivals, who are building bigger models with server farms, supercomputers, and terabytes of data, Apple wants AI models on its devices. On-device AI bypasses a lot of the data privacy issues that cloud-based AI faces.

Persons: Apple, Craig Federighi, OpenAI's Organizations: Apple, Worldwide, Conference, Microsoft, Google Locations: Cupertino , California

☆ Here are the most important new changes coming to your iPhone this fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Justin Sullivan | Getty ImagesAt its annual developers conference Monday, Apple debuted iOS 17 and the slew of updates it will bring to iPhones everywhere later this year. Live transcription will be coming for phone voicemails, so users don't have to listen to get the message. Group chat hacks and voice note transcriptionIf you're the notorious flake in group chats, iOS 17 has an important feature for you. You can go beyond the normal emoji and now use your own photos to create reactions, including animated stickers from Live Photos. For those who like to overshare on voice messages, iOS 17 is delivering automatic transcriptions.

Persons: Tim Cook, Justin Sullivan, Apple, Craig Federighi, Apple's Organizations: Apple Worldwide, Apple, Apple Watch Locations: Cupertino , California

☆ Apple execs were reportedly skeptical on headset, with one likening it to a 'science project'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Apple's headset project suffered from CEO Tim Cook's "distant" approach and lacked the confidence of key company executives at times, Bloomberg reported Thursday. Cook isn't alone in keeping his distance, Bloomberg reported. Top executives including Apple software chief Craig Federighi and hardware executive Johny Srouji have both shown concern about the project, Bloomberg reported. Federighi seemed "wary" and kept his distance, Bloomberg reported citing people familiar, and Srouji compared the headset effort to a "science project." Apple made the decision to sell the headset product at cost as opposed to at a loss, as it originally planned to do, Bloomberg reported.

☆ Why Apple may finally be embracing touchscreen laptops
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported Apple engineers are developing a touchscreen for the MacBook Pro with an expected launch date of 2025, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. While it’s unclear if the touchscreen laptop will see the light of day, introducing the product could accomplish two important things for Apple: adapting to shifting consumer expectations and supercharging sales for its Mac product line. Apple has previously kept the touchscreen away from its Mac lineup to prevent it from cannibalizing iPad sales. Now, however, Apple could use a Mac touchscreen to incentivize consumers to upgrade their computers and keep Mac sales momentum growing. When asked at a conference last fall if Apple will add a touchscreen to Macs, Federighi responded: “Who’s to say?”

☆ Apple reportedly considering touchscreen Mac laptop for 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Apple could release a MacBook Pro laptop with a touchscreen as soon as 2025, according to a report from Bloomberg. More recently, he was asked at a conference whether Apple would release a touchscreen laptop, and he said, "who's to say?" Apple's Mac business doesn't need a shot in the arm, though. Apple's Mac business generated $40.1 billion in revenue during the company's fiscal 2022, up 14% from 2021. A touchscreen Mac would require significant software changes to accept finger taps, which require larger buttons, instead of mouse clicks.

☆ Apple plans to expand encryption of iCloud data
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN Business —Apple on Wednesday said it plans to expand end-to-end encryption of iCloud data to include backups, photos, notes, chat histories and other services, in a move that could further protect user data but also add to tensions with law enforcement around the world. Among a handful of new security tools is a feature called Advanced Data Protection which will allow users to keep certain data more secure from hackers, governments and spies, even in the case of an Apple data breach. With end-to-end encryption, not even the platform can access the data, only the sender and recipient. Privacy groups have urged Apple for years to increase encryption for iCloud backups. Not included in the new list, however, is encryption for iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendar due to interoperability challenges, Apple (AAPL) said.

☆ Apple job listings suggest the company is building a metaverse of its own for its long-rumored headset
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple is looking for engineers who can develop a 3D mixed-reality world for its coming headset. Tim Cook and another Apple executives have previously said they avoid using the word "metaverse." The company's development of a virtual and augmented reality headset was reported in early 2021, and trademark filings from August show that Apple may call the headset "Reality One" or "Reality Pro." Apple CEO Tim Cook previously told Dutch media outlet Bright that he avoids using the word "metaverse." Apple is expected to release its first mixed-reality headset in 2023, Bloomberg reported.

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