You will also be interested
[EN VIDÉO] Interview: how was artificial intelligence born? Artificial intelligence aims to mimic the functioning of the human brain, or at least its logic…
While we only talk about the AI revolution, AppleApple finally passes his turn on the subject, but promises another: that of “spatial computing”. This Monday evening, Apple put an end to the suspense by presenting its famous and long-awaited mixed reality mask. He doordoor ultimately the name Vision Pro and looks like a ski goggle.
During his presentation, Tim CookTim Cookthe boss of Apple pointed out that his arrival ” marks the beginning of a new era for computing ” adding that ” just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing and the iPhone introduced computing mobilemobileApple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing “. Just that ! By evoking the “space computer”, the brand above all avoids talking about augmented realityaugmented reality or virtual.
On this last point, we cannot really speak of virtual realityvirtual reality and those who expected a product capable of waking up the dying concept of metaverse may be disappointed, since the mask only offers augmented reality. There are no joysticks to carry out the actions, but the helmet is piloted with the eyeseyes, hands and voice. From the outside, you can see the eyes of the user. So we have the impression that the glass is transparenttransparent. In reality, this is not the case, and the Vision Pro uses the principle of other models on the market with cameras pass trough, which is the equivalent of the “real camera” function of the Meta Quest. They make it possible to display the virtual elements on the images of the real world. So, obviously, when Apple embarks on such an adventure, the product is perfectly thought out in terms of design, ergonomics and uses.
Thus, mini cameras follow the gaze inside to adjust the display on the two screens ultra-hdultra-hd (23 million pixelpixel spread over the screens). Outside, other cameras at the bottom of the screen capture the movementsmovements hands constantly. To animate the whole, the powerful M2 chip found on MacBooks is at work. But Apple has also added a brand new chip called R1 which acts as a conductor. It is she who manages the data from the 12 cameras, the five sensorssensors and six microphones, to create the illusion of real-time displays. It is possible to connect it to the mains, or to use it on battery with a autonomyautonomy two hours. On this last point, this battery block which hangs at the end of its cable is undoubtedly the only big negative point that we can blame the Vision Pro.
Associated with the M2 processor, the R1 chip is thus able to broadcast new images on the screens in 12 milliseconds, ie 8 times faster than the blink of an eyelash. © Apple
The era of space computing according to Apple
On the interface side, the operating systemoperating system VisionOS displays the equivalent of the iPhone home screen, embedded in real space. To open a applicationapplication, you have to pinch your fingers. THE iconsicons apps interact as soon as you stare at them. In front of the eyes, the user can display giant virtual screens. A function called “Environment” displays an immersive framework around an application. Adjusting the size of the virtual screen can be done from a small dial on the headset. Apple also explains that any space can transform into the equivalent of a cinema room with the impression of looking at a 30-meter-wide screen equipped with a spatialized audio system.
For content, the brand evokes the arrival of Apple Immersive Video, with high definition 180° videos and possibly in 3D. As for FaceTime videoconferencing, the mask will model the user’s face in 3D as aavataravatar. There remains the price of the Vision Pro. It is aimed more particularly at professionals as its name suggests, with a price set at 3,500 dollars. It will be released in early 2024 in the United States initially. Besides the office automationoffice automation, playful uses are also present, which suggests that the mask could be declined for the general public in the future, if its adoption goes well. As for the rest of the announcements, word on the development of “in-house” AIs. On the other hand, the brand presented its product updates and in particular iOSiOS 17, new Macbook Air 15, Mac Pro, MacOS Sonoma, watchOS 10 and an M2 Ultra chip.
Will Apple still stay away from AI for a long time?
Monday, June 5, Apple opens the doors of its annual event, the WWDC, that is to say its conference annualannual for developers. On the program, we will probably find the famous mixed reality headset known as the Reality Pro. But clues show that Apple could well throw itself like the others into the deep end of generative AI. Explanations.
Article of Sylvain BigetSylvain Bigetpublished on June 4, 2023
From June 5 to 9 is WWDC, Apple’s worldwide developer conference. The first day of this event is an opportunity for the brand to present its roadmap and also its new products. Among them, there is a lot of talk about a helmet mixing virtual and augmented reality which could be called Reality Pro. It should give a boost to theuniverseuniverse rather moribund metaverses, no offense to Meta. It must be said that Apple is not used to launching a new product without being absolutely sure of it. Sign of a certain feverishness, Meta has just announced the arrival of its new Meta Quest 3 helmet. It is thinner and more efficient than its predecessor. But at Apple, in addition to this announcement around this famous helmet and new versions of its iPhones, iPadiPad, Apple Watch and Mac or even iOS 17, it is on the AI side that we expect something. Something that could well be related to the helmet in question.
While GoogleGoogle had to double down on the offensive of MicrosoftMicrosoft with Bing AI with the support of OpenAI, Apple remains very discreet on the subject of artificial intelligenceartificial intelligence (IA). This is amazing behavior from one of the major tech giants, while all the others are rushing to the generative AI revolution not to miss the boat. This does not mean that Apple is turning away from the subject because certain signals have appeared lately. To perceive it, it is as often on the side of the recruitment advertisements that you have to look at.
The return of an AI-powered Siri
The firm is looking to recruit engineers specialized in machine learning technologies and with skills around conversational and generative AI. Positions which would also be intimately linked to the mixed reality specific to the famous headset Reality Pro according to these announcements. Moreover, according to the journalist Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, there would have already been an internal AI-specific summit as early as February. A sign that shows that despite an apparent calm, Apple does not intend to miss out on this revolution generated by the arrival of ChatGPTChatGPT. But as usual, the firm takes its time and seems to remain impassive in the face of the rise of these generative AIs which make Google tremble in the first place.
A false impression of calm no doubt, since there are subjects that annoy at Apple. This is particularly the case of thevoice assistantvoice assistant Siri. It is clearly far below its competitor at Google and this is known internally. So a big dose of AI would certainly give it a boost, but we can’t really expect Apple to release a generative chatbot equivalent to ChatGPT. While Google, which has invested heavily in AI for many years and is struggling to offer a convincing model with a Bard with questionable behavior, that the apple brand embarks on an adventure like this in a way improvised seems quite unlikely. It is said that the firm has been secretly developing its own linguistic models for months. This new AI-enhanced Siri could advantageously be integrated into the headset that Apple should present next Monday. And that’s what could make the difference with its competitor Meta, if, however, this AI holds up.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings