Whereas critics may say Apple is falling behind within the AI race, there’s one space the place the Cupertino firm has led the best way: on-device AI processing utilizing the Neural Engine in its iPhone, iPad, and Mac chips.
Market intelligence firm says it expects Home windows PC manufacturers to observe Apple’s lead this yr, placing their very own equal of Neural Engine chips into high-end laptops this yr …
The Neural Engine in iPhones, iPads, and Macs
Apple famously takes a cautious strategy to new technological developments, aiming to be finest, not first.
Whether or not it’s what had been as soon as referred to as phablets, smartwatches, folding telephones, AR/VR headsets, or generative AI, Apple sometimes sits again and lets different firms launch the primary merchandise, whereas it takes its time to launch what it believes is one of the best implementation.
It’s not unusual for commentators to criticize the corporate for being sluggish to undertake the newest tech, and by no means has that been extra so within the case of AI. Whereas different firms are placing ChatGPT type capabilities into every thing from bizarre packing containers with no apparent purpose to be {hardware} slightly than software program to – and I swear I’m not making this up – bicycles, Siri’s capabilities stay on the essential facet.
However as I’ve argued earlier than, Apple has integrated AI into its units for effectively over a decade now – it simply hasn’t been very flashy about it.
Key to Apple’s strategy is to do as a lot AI processing as doable on the gadget, utilizing particular chips particularly designed for the method, aka the Neural Engine. This has apparent efficiency advantages, however finishing up as a lot processing as doable on-device additionally helps Apple’s deal with privateness.
A fifth of Home windows PCs will get their very own AI chips
Canalys says that is one space the place different manufacturers will probably be following Apple’s instance. The agency expects round 20% of PCs launched this yr to have their very own equal of neural engine chips.
“To capitalize on the demand uptick, the PC business will now ship significant innovation by way of on-device AI capabilities in PCs, with 2024 set to be a bumper yr for such units,” mentioned Ishan Dutt, Principal Analyst at Canalys.
“A slew of bulletins from each OEMs and chipset distributors at CES will set the stage for extra merchandise to be delivered to market later within the yr. We anticipate one in 5 PCs shipped this yr to be AI-capable, incorporating a devoted chipset or block, akin to an NPU, to run on-device AI workloads. Adoption will ramp up rapidly thereafter, particularly within the business sector, the place the advantages of on-device AI associated to productiveness, safety and value administration will change into a key consideration for companies.”
By 2027, Canalys forecasts that over 170 million AI-capable PCs will probably be shipped, with almost 60% being deployed in business settings.
Picture: Apple
