Skip to content
After several critical stakeholders at Apple demanded that the company be less secretive about their AI products and how they plan to integrate AI into their existing lineup, CEO Tim Cook has announced that they will make their AI-related announcements this year.
Cook announced this during the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday and explained how Apple intends to share more information about its plans to use advanced AI models and applications later this year.
Cook emphasized the significant potential of generative AI, especially on Apple hardware, highlighting its capacity to revolutionize user productivity and problem-solving.
“We see incredible breakthrough potential for generative AI, so we’re investing significantly in this area. We believe that will unlock transformative opportunities for users when it comes to productivity, problem-solving, and more,” said Cook.
Although Apple has been slower in integrating generative AI compared to competitors like Microsoft and Google, Cook assured shareholders that AI is already embedded in Apple’s products, with further developments expected soon.
Specifically, Cook mentioned the potential use of AI to enhance data search capabilities on Apple devices, as previously reported by Bloomberg. He also underscored the AI capabilities of Apple’s Mac computers powered by Apple silicon.
“Every Mac powered by Apple silicon is a competent AI machine. There’s no better computer for AI today,” he said.
During the meeting, Apple shareholders voted against a proposal urging the company to disclose more information about its AI usage and ethical guidelines.
The proposal, presented by the AFL-CIO pension trust, aimed to shed light on Apple’s AI practices and ensure adherence to ethical standards. However, Apple countered that such disclosures could compromise its competitive strategy in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Similar AI disclosure proposals have been proposed at other tech companies, including an upcoming consideration at Walt Disney’s annual meeting in April. The AFL-CIO stressed the importance of transparency and ethical guidelines in AI usage, advocating for measures to protect creators’ rights and prevent unauthorized use of copyrighted materials.
Apple’s stance reflects its commitment to innovation while safeguarding strategic information in the fiercely competitive AI sector.
