In a landmark announcement at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024, Apple unveiled a suite of innovative features, headlined by the integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its virtual assistant, Siri.
“We’re thrilled to introduce a new chapter in Apple innovation. Apple Intelligence will transform what users can do with our products – and what our products can do for our users,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive officer. “All of this goes beyond artificial intelligence, it’s personal intelligence, and it is the next big step for Apple.”
The new feature, dubbed “Apple Intelligence,” leverages cutting-edge AI technology to enhance the capabilities of Siri.
Users will now be able to access ChatGPT through Siri, providing more dynamic and conversational responses.
This integration is expected to bring a profound change to how users interact with their Apple devices, enabling more complex tasks and more natural communication.
Siri’s optional gateway to ChatGPT will be free to all iPhone users and made available on other Apple products once the option is integrated.
This move is set to enhance the functionality of Siri, allowing it to handle a broader range of queries and tasks with greater efficiency and accuracy.
Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, emphasized the company’s commitment to user privacy.
“Apple Intelligence puts AI models right at the core of your iPhone, iPad, and Mac and protects your privacy at every step,” Federighi said. “It is aware of your personal data without collecting your personal data.”
Unlike many other AI platforms, Apple Intelligence processes data on-device, ensuring that user information isn’t sent to third-party cloud databases.
This approach aligns with Apple’s longstanding focus on privacy, aiming to build user trust in its AI advancements.
The collaboration with OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, underscores the strategic importance of this development.
Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating in a social media post that he was “very happy” to integrate ChatGPT into Apple’s ecosystem.
The AI integration will enable several new features, including the ability for users to create custom emojis through simple descriptions and to generate concise summaries of lengthy emails.
Users will also have the option to make requests to Siri either verbally or in writing, enhancing accessibility and convenience.
These upgrades will be available with the release of Apple’s iOS 18 operating system later this year. However, the full suite of features will only be compatible with more recent models of the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook, ensuring optimal performance and user experience.