Microsoft to Introduce Privacy-focused Chatbot amid Apple AI's Lack of Grip on Emerging Technologies
According to The Information, Microsoft is planning to launch a privacy-focused version of ChatGPT, which could be an advantage considering Apple's apparent lack of grip on emerging AI technologies. The company's Azure cloud server unit would offer a dedicated ChatGPT that runs on isolated cloud servers, keeping the data separate from that of other customers. This service could cost as much as ten times more than the current version, appealing mainly to businesses like banks, financial services, and healthcare institutions who have avoided adopting ChatGPT due to privacy concerns.
The move aims to eliminate fears that employees could inadvertently give the chatbot sensitive proprietary information. The service on the isolated server will not communicate with the main ChatGPT system to preserve privacy, making it an attractive proposition. The latest reports suggest that Microsoft has already received inquiries from organizations about the upcoming product, elevating its position in the AI chatbot race.
On the other hand, Apple's rigid stance on privacy and insistence on a high level of control over its products and services has reportedly created considerable challenges in enhancing Siri, the company's AI efforts. Its controversial "Walled Garden" approach limits the development of robust AI technologies, including large-language models that underpin chatbots such as ChatGPT.
The report also suggests that many Apple employees have left the company because it was slow to make decisions and too conservative in its approach to new AI technologies. This has left the company lagging in the AI chatbot race, allowing Microsoft to take the lead in offering privacy-focused AI chatbots in a ringfenced environment.
Apple's uncompromising stance on privacy has led the company to perform most of Siri's functions on-device, and the company prefers to pre-write Siri's responses rather than using AI-generated responses to maximize privacy and control. This has seemingly left the company out of the AI chatbot race, where Microsoft is flaunting Apple's preferred privacy credentials in the AI arena.
