Apple and Microsoft have taken different approaches to integrating AI features into their products, with Microsoft appearing to be ahead in the race with its new Copilot+ PC unveiled at the Build conference.
Apple has traditionally focused on creating polished products with cutting-edge technology and significant headroom for future applications. The company releases frequent updates and new features that take advantage of specialized hardware, like the M1 chip, which allows for optimized models to run on Apple devices. However, on-device AI has not yet matured, leading to a patchwork of different AI tools that do not seamlessly integrate into the operating system.
On the contrary, Microsoft is delivering cutting-edge AI technologies and has integrated frontier models into its products while supporting open models like Llama and Mistral. The company is reducing its dependence on OpenAI by creating a layer of abstraction through its Copilot brand, which will use the most suitable model for the task behind the scenes.
The Copilot+ PC showcased at the Build conference demonstrates a wide range of AI capabilities, including image creation, live captions, productivity tools, and a recall feature. Some features run on-device, some in the cloud, and some are distributed between both. This approach allows for a seamless integration of AI into the user experience, providing a strong foothold in the Apple ecosystem.
While some users initially mocked Microsoft for investing in OpenAI to release a macOS app, it seems that ChatGPT has become Microsoft’s Trojan horse in the Apple ecosystem. Running on the Azure cloud, the deeper integration of ChatGPT into macOS and iOS gives Microsoft a competitive edge. The race between Apple and Microsoft in AI integration is far from over, and it will be interesting to see what Apple reveals at WWDC in June.
