Apple’s new line of iPad Pros will include a processor that the company says is an “outrageously powerful chip for AI,” as the tech giant laid the groundwork for long-awaited generative AI features across its products amid investor concern that it is falling behind in the race. to take advantage of new technology.
KEY FACTS
The new M4 chip represents an improvement over the M2 chips that powered the last generation of iPads and the M3 chips that power Apple’s current generation of MacBook laptops, the company said in an announcement Tuesday.
Tuesday’s announcement did not offer details about possible AI features that could be integrated into Apple’s technology, although Tim Millet, Apple’s vice president of platform architecture, gave an example, saying that users could isolate the subject of a 4K video and remove the background with just one tap in Apple’s Final Cut Pro app.
Millet said the neural engine that powers the AI capabilities in the M4 chip has been included in Apple chips for years, but this latest neural engine is 60 times more powerful than Apple’s first models and “more powerful than any unit.” of neural processing on any current AI PC.” .”
On Tuesday, Apple announced a new line of iPad Pros that the tech giant called its thinnest yet, available in 11- and 13-inch models with OLED display technology starting at $999 for the 11-inch model.
It also announced its new iPad Air, powered by the M2 chip, which comes in a new larger 13-inch option for $799; Both the iPad Air and iPad pro will be available to order online on Tuesday and in stores on May 15.
Apple shares rose slightly (less than one percentage point) following Tuesday’s announcement.
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WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND
Apple could reveal more plans for AI at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10. CEO Tim Cook said Tuesday that the company intends to “talk about the future of our platforms and share some interesting details about what’s to come” at the event. Cook has previously said that the company is “investing significantly” in AI and would make more announcements on the topic “later this year.”
AGAINST
Apple’s plans for artificial intelligence could face immediate competition. The Verge reports that Microsoft will host an event in Seattle this month where it plans to reveal its vision for the future of “AI PCs” and could launch new hardware with its Arm AI chips.
KEY BACKGROUND
Sales of Apple’s flagship iPhone have been falling, down 10% year over year in the first three months of 2024, leading to a 4% decline in revenue last quarter. And although Apple is considered the most profitable American public company, its shares have been trending downward lately due to lower iPhone demand in China and concerns about Apple’s lack of major actions in the field of artificial intelligence.
BIG NUMBER
38 billion. That’s how many operations the new M4 chip’s neural engine can perform per second, Apple said Tuesday.
This article was originally published by Forbes US.
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