Apple’s, techology once the leader in consumer tech, is now scrambling to catch up in the AI race. Known for its iPhones and Macs, the company has been slow to embrace artificial intelligence. Now, it’s developing an AI chatbot, “Answer Engine,” to rival ChatGPT.
Internally dubbed “Answer Engine,” the AI chatbot is designed to answer questions using information from across the web. Apple is reportedly considering launching it as a standalone app or integrating it into existing products like Siri and Safari. The new tool could become a key part of Apple’s strategy to enhance its search capabilities and bring its products up to speed with rivals like Google and Microsoft.
The development of the “Answer Engine” is being led by a new team called Answers, Knowledge, and Information. Apple is actively recruiting for this team, focusing on talent with expertise in search algorithms and engine development. This move shows that the company is serious about bridging the AI gap that has developed over the last few years.
Apple’s AI journey has been rocky. Despite the launch of Apple Intelligence, the company has admitted to delays and missteps, particularly around integrating ChatGPT-like technology into Siri. AI features like text message summaries have been basic and not very impactful, signaling that Apple has a long way to go to catch up with its competitors.
Apple’s challenges have been compounded by talent losses to companies like Meta. At least four top AI researchers, including the head of Apple’s AI division, Ruoming Pang, have moved to Meta’s “Superintelligence” team. This brain drain is a significant setback as Apple struggles to attract and retain AI talent.
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Despite these challenges, Apple remains financially strong, posting $94 billion in quarterly revenue. However, analysts warn that the company must ramp up its AI capabilities to stay ahead in the evolving tech landscape.