Apple plans to disclose more later this year about its plans to put generative artificial intelligence to use, chief executive Tim Cook told the company's annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday.
Mr Cook said that the iPhone maker sees “incredible breakthrough potential for generative AI, which is why we're currently investing significantly in this area”.
'We believe that will unlock transformative opportunities for users when it comes to productivity, problem-solving and more.”
Apple has been slower in introducing generative AI, which can make humanlike responses to written prompts, than rivals such as Microsoft and Alphabet's Google, which are weaving them into products.
Mr Cook said AI is already at work behind the scenes in Apple's products, but there would be more news on explicit AI features later this year.
Bloomberg previously reported that Apple plans to use AI to improve the ability to search through data stored on its devices.
“Every Mac that is powered by Apple silicon is an extraordinarily capable AI machine," Mr Cook said. "In fact, there's no better computer for AI on the market today."
Apple shareholders on Wednesday rejected a measure asking the company to disclose more information about how it uses AI in its business and its ethical guidelines for the technology.
The proposal was put forth by the pension trust of the AFL-CIO, the largest American labour union federation, which has also proposed AI measures at other technology companies.
A similar proposal will be heard at Walt Disney's annual meeting in April.
At Apple, the AFL-CIO asked for a report on the company's use of AI “in its business operations and disclose any ethical guidelines that the company has adopted regarding the company’s use of AI technology”.
In its supporting statement in Apple's proxy materials, the AFL-CIO wrote: “AI systems should not be trained on copyrighted works, or the voices, likenesses and performances of professional performers, without transparency, consent and compensation to creators and rights holders.”
Apple opposed the measure, saying that disclosures could tip its hand on strategy as it competes against rivals in the fast-moving AI field.
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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