Apple buys iWork.ai area as proof of an enormous AI push mounts

After ChatGPT debuted in November of 2022, synthetic intelligence (AI) made an enormous splash in 2023, with generative AI (the power of AI to create content material) features and companies popping up far and wide. Apple, nevertheless, has barely made a peep–essentially the most we’ve heard from Apple to date are reassurances from CEO Tim Cook dinner that Apple is engaged on …one thing. 

We’re lastly seeing proof that Apple actually is engaged on one thing–or presumably just a few issues. The most recent comes from a report by BuyAiDomains.com that claims that Apple has bought the “iwork.ai” internet area, which will be confirmed by checking the registration information within the Whois database of domains. This leads BuyAiDomainscom to conclude that the iWork apps (Keynote, Numbers, and Pages) are “on the point of a revolutionary transformation.” That could possibly be the case, or Apple could need to be certain that nobody else claims it.

Nonetheless, there may be proof that Apple could have massive modifications in retailer for iWork. The iwork.ai report comes after Apple final week launched an open-source AI mannequin referred to as MLLM-Guided Picture Enhancing, or MGIE for brief. Created in collaboration with UC Santa Barbara, the mannequin can edit photos based mostly on a consumer’s written instructions. A convention paper explains the Photoshop-like features the MGIE can carry out, and Apple has the code, knowledge, and pre-trained fashions out there for obtain on GitHub.

Contemplating the timing of the iwork.ai acquisition and the MGIE launch, it’s simple to conclude that Keynote, Numbers, and Pages may have MGIE-based options, to associate with different generative AI features. The iWork suite of apps has been out there for practically 20 years and Apple hasn’t accomplished a lot lately to alter them, which tempers expectations for future variations. It’d be good if Apple paid nearer consideration to iWork, and these strikes could possibly be the beginning of a change in the precise path. iWork is a comparatively light-weight various to Microsoft Workplace, however a robust AI push may basically change how Apple markets the suite, which comes free with new Apple gadgets.

Apple’s software program precedence is its working programs, so MGIE and different generative AI options may play an enormous position within the OS updates. An October report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that generative AI will play an enormous position in iOS 18, the following era of the iPhone working system. This, together with a brand new model of Siri, will make its debut at WWDC in June. Nonetheless, different reviews declare Apple is focusing on 2025 for the largest AI options, so even with a WWDC announcement, we may be ready some time.