New AI frameworks hint at Apple's generative AI roadmap

Apple Inc. has quietly launched new machine studying frameworks and mannequin libraries, MLX and MLX Knowledge, signaling a rising curiosity in pursuing generative AI purposes, in accordance with a current The Verge report. The releases come as a shock given Apple’s traditionally conservative strategy to AI know-how.

MLX is a machine studying framework optimized to run effectively on Apple Silicon chips. It makes it straightforward for builders to construct AI fashions that may run on MacBook and different Apple units. MLX Knowledge is a supplementary information loading framework.

In response to Apple’s GitHub page, MLX attracts inspiration from present frameworks like PyTorch and Jax however is uniquely designed for seamless integration throughout Apple {hardware}, using shared reminiscence for quicker mannequin coaching. Builders have famous that MLX seems able to coaching complicated AI fashions corresponding to Meta’s Llama and Secure Diffusion.

Will Apple pursue the ever-expanding generative AI house?

The launch suggests Apple could also be poised to pursue the favored generative AI house, together with textual content, picture, and video era, an space firms like Microsoft and Google have quickly expanded into just lately.

Whereas Apple has utilized AI know-how in its merchandise for years, it has historically averted labeling it as such, preferring phrases like “machine studying.” The corporate additionally seems to have accelerated its AI growth efforts this previous September to guage foundational fashions for broader implementation.

Business analysts theorize Apple could leverage its new frameworks to introduce revolutionary generative AI options throughout its providers and units — though the traditionally privacy-centric firm will possible assess moral implications carefully first. Apple declined requests for additional touch upon its particular MLX, MLX Knowledge, and generative AI plans.

Generative AI refers to a category of synthetic intelligence capabilities centered on truly creating or “producing” new content material quite than simply analyzing information or responding to enter. The most typical sorts of generative AI generate artificial textual content, photos, audio, and video that carefully mimic human-produced inventive works.

Featured Picture Credit score: Photograph by Armand Valendez; Pexels