Apple Displays AI Features, M4 Neural Engine At iPad Event

Apple highlighted AI technologies across its device family at its iPad presentation on Tuesday, but it won’t reveal its whole AI plan until June’s Worldwide Developer Conference

The organization highlighted a recently released iPad Air as “an exceptionally potent device for artificial intelligence”; its AI-enabled functionalities, including live text capture, subject lift, and visual lookup, among others; and, naturally, its upgraded M4 processor, which incorporates a neural engine “dedicated to accelerating AI workloads.” 

The update for the iPad Air, which now includes the M2 with a faster CPU, GPU, and neural engine, was characterized as providing “powerful machine learning features,” such as live text capture, which can copy, share, look up, and translate text within the camera frame, and visual lookup, which can identify objects in photos; an AI-powered tool that can lift out a photo’s subject; and visual lookup, which can identify objects in photos. 

When Apple lacked its artificial intelligence technology, it cited third parties. Apple, for instance, mentioned Pixelmator’s Photomator, which enhances photographs with a single click using AI models trained on more than 20 million professional images, while discussing the iPad Air. 

Apple’s entire Let Loose event announcements are detailed below, including the iPad Pro with M4 processor, iPad Air, Apple Pencil, and more. 

In the interim, Apple upgraded the iPad Pro’s M2 processor to the M4, its most recent silicone iteration, along with a next-generation GPU, CPU, and ML accelerators that the company claims will deliver performance that is up to 50% faster than the M2.

The company also emphasized the chip’s NPU or the neural processor unit. It is “dedicated to the acceleration of AI workloads.” 

During the event, Apple SVP of Hardware Engineering John Ternus stated, “While the chip industry is just beginning to add NPUs to some of their processors, we’ve been including our industry-leading neural engine in our chip for years.” 

However, consumers are eager to see what type of use cases these hardware advancements will enable; Apple still needs to provide information on this front, despite having the chance to hint at an iPadOS release with new AI features or other developer-focused announcements.

Apple instead reviewed the pre-existing features of iPadOS, including the Stage Manager for multitasking and the Reference Mode, a display mode designed specifically for creatives. 

However, the organization suggested that iPadOS app developers would soon have access to enhanced AI functionalities. It stated that the operating system software includes sophisticated frameworks, such as CoreML, and that developers would have the ability to utilize its neural engine to provide “powerful AI features right on the device.” 

Apple added new AI-powered session performers to other applications, including Logic Pro, such as a bass and keyboard player who can join a performance in addition to the drummer.

Apple stated that these AI-powered supporting band members can also respond to feedback submitted through the app. Additionally, the company mentioned ChromaGlow, a Logic Pro plug-in supported by machine learning that can add warmth to recordings.

Apple acknowledged the potential of AI to resolve challenges in domains such as photography, such as scanning documents through a device’s camera. 

Ternus stated, “We’ve all tried scanning a document under specific lighting conditions where it’s difficult to avoid casting a shadow.” “The issue is resolved by the new Pro.”

It employs AI to detect documents such as invoices and forms automatically. If shadows are in the way, the new adaptive flash instantly captures multiple photos. The process of stitching the frames together yields a scan that is significantly enhanced. 

While none of the references to AI were particularly remarkable advancements, they indicated that Apple’s approach would highlight AI progress in enhancing the user experience of its devices. Visit this link to view the complete video of the event: 

WWDC is where we anticipate hearing much more about Apple’s AI plans, and murmurs suggest the company may even announce an AI-powered Siri or a partnership with an AI provider such as Google or OpenAI. 

Tuesday’s event primarily showcased the new hardware, which included the following:

• A brand-new iPad Air measures 13 inches and features an M2 chip.
• An iPad Pro upgraded with an M4 chip and stacked OLED screens for a higher-fidelity display.
• A Pro edition of the Apple Pencil is equipped with updated sensors.
• An updated version of the Magic Keyboard.

Although AI references were interspersed throughout the event, the hardware was the primary focus.