Apple has reportedly formed a separate team to provide AI features similar to ChatGPT earlier this year.
On the 3rd (local time), Bloomberg News reported that, despite some executives' philosophical doubts, Apple is clearly moving toward developing its own AI model similar to ChatGPT and that the AKI (Answers, Knowledge and Information) team is already exploring various in-house AI services to create a new search experience.
According to the report, the AKI team is led by Lobby Walker, the senior director. He reports directly to John Giannandrea, Apple's AI chief.
Walker was previously responsible for Apple's voice assistant Siri. Following the team transfer, he took charge of the new AKI team and brought in key team members he had worked with during the Siri era.
Bloomberg reported that the AKI team is developing a 'response engine' that can answer general knowledge-related questions based on the internet.
It was also reported that they are developing new standalone apps to be applied to future versions of Siri, Spotlight, and Safari, as well as building new servers and technology systems to support them.
Meanwhile, Apple stated last year that there would be no in-house developed chatbot when it launched its AI system 'Apple Intelligence.' Instead, it had expressed plans to collaborate with OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, to integrate ChatGPT into Apple's Siri, allowing users to access 'global knowledge.'
Until recently, Apple's software and marketing executives have claimed that consumer interest in chatbots is limited and have denied their necessity.
It is reported that some executives within the company are maintaining a skeptical stance toward ChatGPT-style AI models.
However, Siri and Apple Intelligence have been criticized for performing poorly compared to competitors. Bloomberg pointed out that while Apple has neglected AI development, chatbots like ChatGPT have gained popularity among hundreds of millions of users worldwide.