Tim Cook: Apple Intelligence has been in the works since 2017

Apple CEO Tim Cook shared the company’s ambitious vision for the future, highlighting Apple’s growing focus on artificial intelligence (AI) alongside its life-saving health innovations in a recent interview.

The executive revealed work on AI started back in 2017, when the team working on neural engines, the one that was allegedly developing a smart car, moved the people towards implementation of machine-learning in Apple products.

Cook emphasized Apple’s commitment to using technology to empower and protect users. It all started with the Apple Watch and its heart rate monitoring, and now users can monitor sleep apnea with a wearable. “Technology should serve humanity, and AI can be a powerful tool in making that happen,” Cook explained.

One area where Apple is particularly keen on using AI is personal health and safety. By leveraging machine learning, Apple's devices can provide increasingly accurate insights into user behavior and health metrics. Apple's approach to AI also reflects its emphasis on privacy. The company prefers on-device-based AI that processes data locally, ensuring user information stays secure. More complex tasks are still done by remote servers with built-in safety systems, just like in an iPhone.

Beyond health, Cook hinted at how AI is transforming other areas of Apple’s ecosystem. AI is becoming a silent yet significant part of Apple’s product experience, from smarter Siri interactions to predictive text suggestions and photo categorization.

While he refrained from detailing specific upcoming features, Cook assured that Apple’s investments in AI will continue to focus on practical applications that enhance user experience without compromising privacy.

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