Apple Unveils Array of New Software, but AI Comeback Remains Far Off
The iPhone maker releases language-translation tool and broad software redesign; some AI upgrades remain delayed
Key Points
- Apple unveiled new live translation capabilities, group-chat upgrades and a host of features in its software ecosystem.
- Apple introduced a ‘Foundation Models framework,’ allowing app makers to use Apple’s AI models on devices without internet.
- Apple faces pressure to deliver on ‘Apple Intelligence’ and is behind big tech peers in the AI race, despite new AI features.
Apple AAPL -1.21%decrease; red down pointing triangle released new live translation capabilities, group-chat upgrades and a host of features and designs in its software ecosystem on Monday. But it was far from the AI comeback investors were hoping for.
The company’s shares fell shortly after the Worldwide Developers Conference began, when Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, said an upgraded Siri voice assistant wasn’t yet available. Apple needs “more time to meet our high quality bar,” he said. The stock closed down 1.2%.
The iPhone maker unveiled what it called a “Foundation Models framework,” or tools that will allow app makers to use Apple’s artificial-intelligence models on its devices and without an internet connection or cloud-computing costs.
“This will ignite a whole new wave of intelligence” in apps, Federighi said in a video shown at the company’s Cupertino, Calif., headquarters and streamed online. He offered an example of apps that would be able to prep practice exams for tests or offer advice about hiking trails.
The live translation features work in phone calls, messages and FaceTime, allowing users to hold real-time conversations with someone using another language. New group-chat options include the ability to do polls, request and send Apple cash and add backgrounds to messages. The company also renamed its software and introduced a broad visual redesign of its signature operating systems.
In any other year, the multitude of software upgrades, tweaks and new services might be enough to excite shareholders and the company’s devoted user base, which is responsible for more than 2.3 billion active devices around the world.
Yet the conference, which will last for several days, might ultimately be more noteworthy for what Apple doesn’t announce than for what it does. In addition to the Siri delay, the company has yet to strike deals with potential AI partners including Google and Chinese competitors Baidu and Alibaba.
Apple remains under pressure to deliver on the promise of Apple Intelligence, a vision for the highly personalized AI features it announced at last year’s conference, many of which have yet to reach users. While many investors ultimately have faith that Apple will figure it out, the company remains far behind big tech peers including Microsoft, Meta and Google, which are spending billions of dollars on an AI arms race.
The company is facing more AI competition after one of its AI partners, OpenAI, took steps to compete with Apple in the device business. OpenAI last month teamed up with Apple’s former head of design, Jony Ive, one of the creators of the iPhone, to build new AI “companions.”
Although there was no upgraded Siri, the company added a host of AI features to various devices and services, including a “Workout Buddy” on its smartwatch that can analyze user fitness data and provide encouragement during workouts.