Apple recently unveiled the new iPad Mini, emphasizing AI-driven software as the future of its devices. Despite these ambitions, Apple’s own AI system, Siri, has faced challenges in matching competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Apple’s internal testing reveals that Siri’s capabilities lag behind ChatGPT, with the latter being 25% more accurate and able to answer 30% more questions, according to researchers.
Siri’s Evolution and Limitations
Siri has undergone upgrades, gaining better natural language understanding and integration with apps and local files. However, when it fails to handle specific queries, the system seamlessly redirects those tasks to ChatGPT, part of a collaboration between Apple and OpenAI. The integration also extends beyond Siri, with ChatGPT powering features like image and document understanding, as well as writing tools in apps like Notes and Safari.
Apple’s AI Strategy
Apple’s reliance on ChatGPT suggests it may be struggling to develop a competitive in-house AI stack. Some Apple insiders acknowledge that its generative AI efforts are over two years behind rivals like Google’s Gemini or Meta’s AI initiatives. The slower rollout of Apple’s AI features has also raised concerns, especially compared to Samsung’s Galaxy AI or Chinese smartphone brands, which have adopted generative AI more swiftly.
AI Implementation So Far
The current implementation of Apple’s AI has been utilitarian, focusing on features like notification summaries and prioritization, rather than transformative AI-driven user experiences. Some analysts believe that Apple’s push for AI was more about appeasing investor concerns rather than delivering a breakthrough. While announcements from Apple’s developers conference this year hinted at a bigger AI push, many of the promised features are still pending.
Looking Forward
As Apple continues to refine its AI strategy, the coming year will be crucial for reimagining how AI shapes its software ecosystem. With growing competition and expectations, it remains to be seen whether Apple can catch up and deliver a more impactful AI experience.
