Apple acquires startup DarwinAI, could boost Tim Cook’s AI vision: report

Apple has reportedly acquired DarwinAI, a Canada-based startup focused on artificial intelligence (AI). The deal, struck earlier this year, is believed to bolster the tech giant’s artificial intelligence ambitions. In February, CEO Tim Cook revealed during the company’s quarterly earnings call that the company spent “a lot of time and energy” on artificial intelligence. He gave no details but also hinted that some of these developments could be announced later this year. It is worth noting that there are reports that the iOS 18 update may add new artificial intelligence features to the iPhone.

according to a Report Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the Cupertino-based tech giant not only acquired DarwinAI but also hired many of its employees. Gurman also cited unnamed sources as saying that new employees have joined Apple’s artificial intelligence division. The acquisition is believed to have taken place recently, as reports suggested the deal could be officially announced at a later date.

Alexander Wong, the startup’s co-founder and chief scientist, has also reportedly joined Apple as director of machine learning research at the company’s artificial intelligence division. In response to a Bloomberg inquiry on the matter, the iPhone maker said it “acquires smaller technology companies from time to time.” However, it did not disclose the purpose and plans of the acquisition.

DarwinAI, according to its LinkedIn Page, providing manufacturers with “end-to-end solutions to improve product quality and increase production efficiency.” The company is said to have developed an artificial intelligence system that can perform visual inspections of parts during the manufacturing process.Mr. Huang also It is said Invented a technique to make neural network models smaller and faster. Apple may leverage the same technology to bring on-device AI models and features to its devices.

Although Cook hinted that artificial intelligence is the company’s main focus in 2024, he did not disclose the company’s specific plans. Some rumors suggest Apple may be working on a native base model called AppleGPT. Other rumored features include an enhanced version of Siri that can act as a chatbot similar to ChatGPT and Google Gemini, AI-generated Apple Music playlists, AI integration into Apple’s productivity apps such as Pages and Keynote, and more. It is also reported that the iOS 18 update, which is expected to be released with the iPhone 16 series later this year, may bring a number of new AI features to Apple smartphones.