Artificial general intelligence (AGI) is a regular topic of discussion for many AI companies, but it seems Apple has a radically different view than the majority. Here’s what the company just revealed.
Apple’s AI chief is skeptical of artificial general intelligence
Steven Levy recently interviewed several Apple executives on the topic of Apple Intelligence. The full article based on these interviews is available here for CABLE subscribers.
Much of the discussion treads familiar territory from other talks, but there was one particularly interesting quote related to artificial general intelligence. This comes from John Giannandrea, Apple’s senior vice president of machine learning and AI strategy.
Unlike many of its competitors, Apple had no interest in producing artificial general intelligence, a quest that seemed unrealistic and almost frivolous. “The most credible researchers in the field believe that there are many unresolved problems and that advances are needed,” says Giannandrea. “The idea that you are developing these technologies to move to AGI is very naive.”
Giannandrea’s skepticism about the ambitions of other AI companies is clear.
While some may point to the constant improvement of new LLM models as proof that AGI isn’t that far away, Apple seems to think differently.
He says Apple could very well be involved in major breakthroughs, not to revive the Singularity, but to improve its products. “We probably have more engineers working on what we call ‘surveys’ than what will ship next year,” he says, referring to what is apparently the company’s term for designate fundamental research.
In other words, Giannandrea does not exclude that Apple is involved in advances related to AGI, but the end goal is not AGI, but user-facing products to improve people’s lives . And Apple’s AI chief thinks some common AGI optimism is “very naive.”
Take from 9to5Mac
AGI optimists might cite Giannandrea’s quote as further evidence of Apple’s delay in AI.
They may be right, but I tend to think it’s quite a useful dose of realism. Since Apple’s main source of revenue is hardware, it can understandably be more cynical about AGI, while other companies have to talk about it to generate enthusiasm and funding.
What do you think of Apple’s AGI views? Let us know in the comments.
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