Apple’s AI event was mostly a team-building exercise

Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park

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February’s AI summit was the primary time in years that Apple held a mass gathering of its form at its Apple Park campus, reasonably than as a virtual-only occasion. Nonetheless, whereas the occasion may’ve been a possibility for Apple to regain focus away from others reminiscent of Microsoft and OpenAI or Google’s “Bard,” it was much more low-key than that.

Certainly, plainly the occasion was extra a motive to get individuals collectively and to progressively nudge them in the identical path, reasonably than one that would’ve offered significant technological change.

In keeping with Mark Gurman’s “Energy On” e-newsletter for Bloomberg, the summit did have discussions about machine studying and AI developments inside Apple. A brochure for the occasion had Apple’s AI head commenting “machine studying is transferring quicker than ever, and the expertise we have now right here is actually on the forefront.”

Regardless of the assertion, Gurman claims he hasn’t heard of something that might be a “recreation changer popping out of the summit” for shoppers in any respect.

With ChatGPT and Google Bard capturing headlines, Apple may’ve used the occasion to internally showcase what its staff have provide you with. However apparently it did not, as Gurman believes Apple did not preview any type of chatbot competitor, or something remotely in that discipline, throughout the occasion.

Whereas the occasion seemingly did not make any critical waves on the AI entrance, it does not less than present Apple is working to carry in-person occasions once more following a hiatus of some years. It might be thought of a trial run earlier than it holds different public-facing and bigger occasions, reminiscent of WWDC in the summertime or in-person media occasions for product launches.

Because it mixed a dwell attendance with streams to staff who could not make the journey, plainly the entire primary event-related programs got an intensive shakedown, which means different occasions may simply be held on this manner down the highway.