• Apple has reportedly acquired Canadian artificial intelligence (AI) startup DarwinAI according to Bloomberg News on Thursday.
  • Some tech staffers have joined Apple to improve its AI technology, source said.

OUR TAKE:
Apple’s acquisition of DarwinAI marks a strategic move into generative AI, aligning with CEO Tim Cook’s promise to innovate in this space. This signals Apple’s intent to integrate AI capabilities directly into its devices and software, potentially reshaping user experiences. The company’s expansion into generative AI is one to watch.
— Iris Deng, BTW reporter

Apple acquired generative AI startup DarwinAI, aiming to integrate generative AI into its iOS 18 software.

Apple acquired DarwinAI, absorbing its tech employees to improve its generative AI technologies

Apple has acquired the Canadian artificial intelligence (AI) start-up DarwinAI, adding technology to its arsenal ahead of a significant push into generative AI in 2024. According to sources familiar with the matter, the iPhone maker purchased the business earlier this year, and dozens of DarwinAI’s employees have joined Apple’s AI division.

DarwinAI developed AI technology for visually inspecting components during the production process, offering services across a range of industries. However, one of its core technologies is making AI systems smaller and faster, which could be beneficial to Apple as it focuses on running AI on devices rather than solely in the Cloud.

Also read: Apple set to unveil generative AI innovations later this year

Apple is intending to integrate AI capabilities directly into its devices, following the trend

Compared to other tech companies like Microsoft, Apple has been slower in rolling out generative AI, which can respond like a human being based on written prompts. Despite Apple acquiring more AI companies than most others, it still lags in the generative AI market. Microsoft and Alphabet’s Google are integrating generative AI into products. As a result, Apple is incorporating features into its iOS 18 software that rely on generative AI, the technology behind ChatGPT, and other groundbreaking tools.

Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has promised that Apple will “break new ground” in AI this year, with an announcement expected as soon as the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

Internally, Apple has started integrating generative AI into its operations, using the technology to assist with customer service requests. Auto-generating presentations and completing blocks of text are also planned additions to its software. Additionally, Apple is working on developing a new version of its Xcode programming software, which utilises AI to help developers write code.