It has been rumored that the next-generation iPhone would include Siri improvements and this just might be the thing. Bloomberg has now reported that Apple could be developing a dedicated “Apple Neural Engine” AI processor. The new chip would allow for improved facial and speech recognition as well as improved battery life.
The new chip would let Apple offload those tasks onto a dedicated module designed specifically for demanding artificial intelligence processing, allowing Apple to improve battery performance…. The Apple AI chip is designed to make significant improvements to Apple’s hardware over time, and the company plans to eventually integrate the chip into many of its devices, including the iPhone and iPad, according to the person with knowledge of the matter.
Additionally, Bloomberg claims that Apple will allow developers access to the chip and has also been testing applications of it’s own such as “offloading facial recognition in the photos application, some parts of speech recognition, and the iPhone’s predictive keyboard to the chip.”
WWDC is less than one week away, starting June 5, so it’s possible we may here about chip here. Maybe even a alongside a Siri Speaker later this year?