The AI Revolution in Personal Computing: Apple and Microsoft Lead the Charge
Chadi Abi fadel
Senior Data Scientist @ Student World | Python, Process Optimization, Automation
Executive Summary
Food for Thought
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Introduction
Generative AI is advancing rapidly, moving far beyond simple chatbots. Much like GUIs transformed computing from text-based interfaces, generative AI is set to revolutionize digital experiences. Innovations like immersive 3D games and seamless video calls are now integral to our lives, and AI is poised to enhance these interactions even further.
Andrew Ng, a leading figure in machine learning, noted that companies leveraging ChatGPT without relying on its current implementation will thrive, similar to how early iPhone apps evolved. This trend is evident as tech giants adopt AI, reflecting their culture and values. This article focuses on Apple and Microsoft, two companies with the power to redefine our interaction with electronics.
Let the consumer electronics race begin!
Apple
Apple made some major announcements at their recent WWDC2024. There were many updates to the software and experience for the end user. They also spoke about the integration of AI, rebranding it as “Apple Intelligence.” As you might expect, generative AI is a good technology to extend Siri, which needs improvement.
Apple was late to enter the generative AI game, but they made a bold move by rebranding AI as “Apple Intelligence.” This branding suggests a future product focus, starting with a small language model on the device that calls ChatGPT when it doesn’t have the answer. Privacy is a significant concern for Apple, with the model only calling external sources when the user allows it.
Reactions to Apple Intelligence have been mixed. For instance, Fireship’s YouTube video titled “lol apple intelligence is dumb” (Click here) satirically critiques Apple’s AI efforts. The video claims Apple is following the AI hype while maintaining its risk-averse approach, reminiscent of how they introduced the first iPhone after extensive testing for UX and functionality.
The video also highlights new features like analyzing images to prompt ChatGPT, a new iPad calculator that solves equations with an Apple pen, and sending MidJourney-style images in iMessage. While the latter two features are nice additions, they are not groundbreaking. Apple’s solid marketing, essential for complex AI products, ensures these features receive praise.
Microsoft
Microsoft's PC+Copilot is set to revolutionize user interaction with computers by seamlessly integrating AI into the computing experience.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal (Click here), Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella discussed the trend of moving AI from the cloud to edge devices. Unlike earlier cloud-based models like GPT, the goal now is to run AI offline on PCs, significantly reducing execution time for prompts. This shift requires new hardware: the neural processing unit (NPU), a chip that accelerates AI processes.
Microsoft’s offering parallels Apple's, but the real innovation lies in the Recall and search functions. The NPU gives laptops a "photographic memory," enabling users to search for loosely defined terms. Windows constantly takes screenshots of your screen, using a generative AI model on the NPU to make the content searchable.
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This concept is reminiscent of the Black Mirror episode "The Entire History of You," (Click here) where people use a device called a "grain" to record and replay memories, leading to various complications. Similarly, the Recall function in Windows offers extensive memory recall capabilities but raises concerns about privacy and security.
A recent vulnerability in Recall was discovered by an ethical hacker (Click Here), exposing the potential for sensitive data extraction and misuse. This highlights the importance of addressing security risks in emerging AI technologies.
Impact on users
The impact on users is substantial, as AI tools like Copilot streamline tasks, offer intelligent suggestions, and automate routine processes, enhancing efficiency and user experience across Microsoft's ecosystem.
This evolution raises the bar for developers, integrating AI and LLMs into their workflows. DevOps will become even more crucial, with emerging fields like AIOps, MLOps, and DataOps converging into a comprehensive discipline.
A new set of regulations needs to constantly be created, and polished to make sure that our technology is here to serve us, not the other way around. Society will ce changed, I hopoe that this change will be in line with our wellbeing, the way we define it.
Conclusion
With these updates, we need to keep in mind that this is a race between major tech companies. Amazon and Google joined earlier, NVIDIA and OpenAI remain active, and Samsung and Meta are making strides with their devices and AI initiatives. In this article, we explored the announcements of two major tech companies and highlighted the fun stuff other companies are doing. This change is expected to create an ecosystem similar to how the dot-com bubble disrupted business as usual.
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