Apple Throws Gasoline on the AI Arms Race

In the mid-1990s, it seemed like everyone in my circle was obsessed with the internet.

Between working at the IT department of HBO and having friends who were software engineers, it seemed like the internet was the only thing that mattered.

Outside in the real world, most Americans were more interested in the OJ Simpson trial and the Atlanta Summer Olympics than the internet.

In fact, the majority of Americans never even used the internet, and about half had never even used a computer.

While my colleagues and I were busy building the future, many Americans were totally clueless.

We are seeing the exact same thing play out right now in AI.

Despite all the talk and focus we give to AI here at Altucher’s Investment Network, only about 23% of Americans have even used ChatGPT.

And while this number will inevitably grow over time, until now AI usage has been mostly limited to tech-savvy early adopters.

All of that is set to change this Fall.

The AI Supercycle Begins This Fall

Yesterday at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple finally unveiled their hotly anticipated new AI features for iPhone and Mac.

The features, which Apple has coined “Apple Intelligence”, include a new set of tools that use AI to improve the productivity and creativity of Apple’s customers.

Some of these features include some pretty straightforward capabilities that AI users have already been using for months… like the ability to use AI to write/respond to emails or generate images.

The major difference here is that Apple’s tools are baked directly into Apple’s products.

This means that people who otherwise wouldn’t use AI will be prompted to use AI when replying to text messages or emails. 

For most people who aren’t tech-savvy – which are most people – making AI features easier to learn, access, and use will make all the difference.

The more exciting component of Apple Intelligence is a set of features that makes performing tasks easier with Apple devices.

Apple execs described a new feature for Siri called App Intents.

App Intents allow app developers to create features that can be used by interacting with Siri.

For example, in the near future I expect that Tesla owners will be able to use Siri to make sure their car seats are heated before they get into their car on cold days.

Another new Siri feature will make it easy to interact with AI tools like ChatGPT. 

In the demonstration, Apple showed how Siri will seamlessly engage ChatGPT if the user asks a question that Siri doesn’t know the answer to, like a recipe.

Although ChatGPT is the first AI model that Siri will integrate with, Apple plans to allow its customers to select different AI tools if they’d like in the future.

These new features represent some of the most exciting developments in the AI space because they will finally deliver on the promise of digital assistants.

While Apple started this journey 13 years ago when they launched Siri with the iPhone 4s, Siri hasn’t evolved all that much over the past decade.

With these new features, Apple will allow its customers to perform tasks through voice… without needing to pick up their phones or open their laptops.

Although these tasks will start with user voice instructions, over time, they’ll likely evolve to happen automatically without any user involvement.

A phone conversation with a spouse about picking up groceries for dinner might automatically trigger Siri to order groceries and find recipes without the user needing to lift a finger.

This is ultimately the dream of AI… the ability for technology to accomplish things on its own so we can all have more time to do what we love.

With Apple’s new features – set to release this fall – billions of users will begin to experience the benefits of AI for the first time. 

As one of the most influential tech companies in the world, Apple’s investment in AI will throw gasoline on the AI arms race. 

Apple’s ability to create technology that feels like magic will inevitably push the whole industry forward, meaning it won’t be long before Android users get similar or even better features.

In general, competition between rival companies results in better products and the development of new technology.

With Apple now putting their weight behind AI technology, the race to develop more intelligent AI products is hotter than ever.