Apple's AI Team Working on LiDAR, Smaller Neural Networks, Image Processing and More

[falainber]

But... But... But... All of the Apple haters told me Apple lost the AI race and they've given up

Quote: "Going forward, Apple plans to allow its AI and machine learning researchers to start publishing papers, marking its willingness to contribute to the research community."

Would they do it if they were "winning" AI race? I am not sure what impressed you so much about the fact that Apple engineers took part in a conference.

 

[npmacuser5]

At this point they might as well license Mac OS to other vendors.
[doublepost=1481141469][/doublepost]
I must be using it wrong.

Your tone of voice, Siri is a very sensitive AI. She quickly picks up on your negativity.

 

[shk718]

Apple is still the gold standard when it comes to design. Just look at SurfaceBook to the new MBP... it's superior in almost every way and priced similarly.

Google's not even in the running when it comes to design. Google Pixel, Google Home, Google Glass, etc... embarrassing.

Siri knows context, just like Google... depending on what you're asking. Siri is better at task based intelligence while Google is better at broader questions. However, they both fail badly as far as true intelligence goes and it's unfortunate the media simply parrots this false notion that Siri is far behind the competition. If you use Google Assistant for any length of time and you'll run into the same frustrations as Siri; maybe more, depending on how you use it. Heck, even the presenter was embarrassed by Google assistant getting his text message wrong on stage during the Pixel launch... he didn't need Walt or MKBHD or anyone else to point out its weaknesses.

I agree, what we're seeing is barely artificial intelligence. We're at the very tip of the iceberg - and to say that Google is years ahead of apple is just plain silly. Each assistant has it's strengths and weaknesses and neither can interpret your request with 100% accuracy. Apple seams to be much further along than most people realize.

 

[oldwatery]

How about getting a few of those people to develop a new COMPUTER?????????

 

[mediacomposer]

Cool. Now can you get Siri to do anything right for once?

 

[djlythium]

More advanced neural networks in order to design better watch bands.

J/K! In all seriousness, it's intriguing stories like these that make me wonder about Apple's hidden direction. On the surface, their new rMBPs suck, iPhone is (relatively) stagnant, they kill off the AirPort Extreme, and seem to care about catering to the hipster market more than creative professionals. Yet, deep within, they are innovating along the silicon, machine learning, and neural network frontiers.

Realistically, Apple, Inc. has some of the best minds in the world working on secret, probably earth-shattering, concepts. I can only deduce that their 'emoji and watch band' focus is simply a front as they await the proper time to reveal the next stage in technological revolution, as Apple has been known to do in the past (e.g., iPhone, iPad, multiple Mac generations, TouchID, Apple Pay, etc.).
[doublepost=1481150401][/doublepost]

Cool. Now can you get Siri to do anything right for once?

Dude, my first response it to agree with you. I will say, though, that Siri has been pretty on point for me recently (for Siri).

 

[Soccertess]

Some great research happening! Loots pretty amazing. So why do we only get Emojis and Siri? They should almost just use google now and abandon that horrid thing called Siri.

But on a serious note, the health and vital signs is interesting. It's were the Apple watch should be right now!

 

[Mark.T]

Research is important...
But keeping customers is also important.

Apple want to build an ecosystem heavily reliant on integration and yet it prices the products out of reach.
That is a stupid move.

Apple need to see the move by Microsoft / Google ..they are making leaps and bounds in design and integration.
Apple WAS in the lead.


Apple..SIRI is a complete embarrassment.
Machine learning?? It does not even know CONTEXT !!

Mossberg and MKBHD have call you out....god even Barbara Streisand !!
Take a hint!!

OK - We all see what you did there!

 

[komone]

Apple appear to think they are Google. That's not the competition at all.

 

[macduke]

Going forward, Apple plans to allow its AI and machine learning researchers to start publishing papers, marking its willingness to contribute to the research community. Apple has always been notoriously secretive, but allowing researchers to publish could attract top talent that would not otherwise want to join the company.

Maybe Apple does take suggestions from MacRumors, lol, as I was just talking with someone on here a few months ago about how they need to do this.

 

[twa440]

Your tone of voice, Siri is a very sensitive AI. She quickly picks up on your negativity.

I hope so

 

[mchoffa]

Cool. Now can you get Siri to do anything right for once?

No kidding! Siri hasn't improved much since the first release five years ago. Alexa sounds so much more natural and actually understands what you say. I still can't get Siri to say most names correctly even after typing in the pronunciation and teaching it the correct pronunciation. Apple is REALLY lagging behind Amazon and Google on this front.

 

[duffman9000]

Intelligent assistant? LOL!
Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.

 

[Tech198]

so the iPhone would have LIDAR ? How the <censored> would that make sense?

LIDAR would be more for cars... i suppose it could be used for anything really. but in cars it makes more sense getting feedback..

a phone is tired to your car anyway, so it makes less sense it being in the phone as it just relies on what the car would tell it.

Its the apps which would be more the machine learning.... but that would be away from the car...

 

[Bacillus]

No kidding! Siri hasn't improved much since the first release five years ago. Alexa sounds so much more natural and actually understands what you say. I still can't get Siri to say most names correctly even after typing in the pronunciation and teaching it the correct pronunciation. Apple is REALLY lagging behind Amazon and Google on this front.

Rightly so. Apple does (or buys) lot's of work on the conceptual level, but ever so often creates a mess implementing it. AI: see Siri. Here they didn't buy into the extensibility vision of the original developers. So now they run against walls that they can't surpass. Which essentially means that Siri is dead. That is too embarassing for the Board to admit, so we're completely locked up, which will be denied with numerous fixes and patches that don't scale up, don't translate, can't be replicated etc.
Count the numerous undocumented 10.1.1.1.x......10.1.1.2.x updates that I candidly skip.
In the end, expect a PR-message that they assigned x000 engineers (as with Maps...)
That's the ultimate Cook equivalent of "We do what we can, but we're running arond in circles".
Essentially the same mess that Microsoft was under Ballmer.

 

[komone]

Your tone of voice, Siri is a very sensitive AI. She quickly picks up on your negativity.

All together... "Siri, when can I have a new computer?"

 

[9081094]

I agree, what we're seeing is barely artificial intelligence. We're at the very tip of the iceberg - and to say that Google is years ahead of apple is just plain silly. Each assistant has it's strengths and weaknesses and neither can interpret your request with 100% accuracy. Apple seams to be much further along than most people realize.

Maybe it's time for them to show they're ahead by delivering cutting edge and not holding back. It takes courage to sell out dated hardware for premium prices

 

[shk718]

Maybe it's time for them to show they're ahead by delivering cutting edge and not holding back. It takes courage to sell out dated hardware for premium prices

What hardware is "outdated" ?

 

[9081094]

What hardware is "outdated" ?

Macpro, iMac, Mac mini, even the new MacBook Pro come with outdated CPU and graphics.