March 15th, 2024: Apple has reportedly acquired DarwinAI, a Canada-based startup focused on artificial intelligence (AI), in a deal that could significantly boost the tech giant’s AI ambitions.
The acquisition, which took place earlier this year, has not been officially announced by Apple, but sources familiar with the matter have confirmed the development to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
DarwinAI, known for its expertise in developing AI systems to inspect components in the manufacturing process visually, has also seen many of its employees join Apple’s AI division.
Most notably, the startup’s co-founder and Chief Scientist, Alexander Wong, has been hired as a Director of Machine Learning Research at Apple.
The acquisition comes when Apple CEO Tim Cook has emphasized the company’s focus on AI development.
During the company’s quarterly earnings call in February, Cook revealed that Apple was investing a “tremendous amount of time and effort” in AI and hinted at the possibility of new AI-driven features being unveiled later this year.
Speculation surrounding Apple’s AI plans has been rife, with rumors suggesting the development of a native foundation model called AppleGPT, an enhanced version of Siri that could function as a chatbot similar to ChatGPT and Google Gemini, AI-generated playlists for Apple Music, and AI integration into productivity apps like Pages and Keynote.
The upcoming iOS 18 update, expected to launch alongside the iPhone 16 series, is also rumored to bring several new AI features to Apple smartphones.
The acquisition of DarwinAI could play a crucial role in Apple’s AI strategy, particularly in developing on-device AI models and features.
This approach aligns with Apple’s emphasis on user privacy and security, as on-device AI processing minimizes the need for cloud-based data processing.
As Apple continues to invest in AI and expand its capabilities, integrating DarwinAI’s expertise and technology could lead to significant advancements in the company’s products and services.
While the specifics of the acquisition and its implications remain under wraps, the tech world eagerly awaits the curtain-raiser of Apple’s AI-driven innovations in the coming months.