Tim Cook Affirms Apple’s Generative AI Features Set for Release ‘Later This Year’

There has been a lot of buzz about a smarter Siri and Apple’s Generative AI in the news recently. During Apple’s quarterly earnings call yesterday, CEO Tim Cook made an unusual remark about the company’s investment in Artificial Intelligence. He mentioned that Apple is working on generative AI features that will be available to customers “later this year.“

This comment seems to support rumors that iOS 18 could be the biggest update in Apple’s history. There are also leaks and suggestions indicating that Artificial Intelligence and its deep integration will play a significant role in shaping iOS 18. References found in the iOS 17.4 code suggest that Apple is working on its own large language model, known internally as Ajax.

“In the future, we are committed to investing in technologies that will shape our tomorrow. This includes AI, where we are dedicating a significant amount of time and effort. We are excited to share more details about our ongoing work in this area later this year.” – Tim Cook

While Cook’s comments did not provide specific details, it appears that Apple aimed to address certain industry narratives and perceptions from experts who believe that Apple is lagging behind Google, Amazon, and Microsoft in AI development. It is worth noting that these competitors have already introduced advanced AI models, offering experiences similar to ChatGPT in 2023, while Apple has yet to roll out any AI generative features.

“I recognize a significant opportunity for Apple in the realm of generative AI and AI, but I won’t delve deeper into it at this time.” – Tim Cook

According to various reports and leaks, Apple is preparing to enhance Siri with advanced AI capabilities. Despite criticism of Siri for not evolving like other voice assistants, Apple could potentially change this perception significantly.

Apple appears to be working on a new version of Siri, dubbed ‘Siri 2.0,’ powered by modern generative AI large language models. The company also plans to introduce exciting AI features across iOS, including playlist recommendations in Apple Music, smart replies in Messages, and more. Apple aims to integrate AI across all its software platforms, including iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

Traditionally, Apple announces the next major iterations of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. While Tim Cook did not explicitly mention WWDC, his “later this year” comment likely aligns with that timeline. If these features are not included in the initial versions, they may be introduced in future software updates.