Breaking the wall of competition, Apple has formally joined to the Partnership of AI. The non-profit group was founded by competitors, including Amazon, Facebook, Google and Microsoft.
Apple is one of the active players in the artificial intelligence (AI) space. It already has Siri to showcase the talent of deep learning to its users and shareholders. But as its rivals are swiftly expanding in the nascent market of AI, the latest move is quite presumable.
“We believe it is beneficial to Apple, our customers, and the industry to play an active role in its development and look forward to collaborating with the group to help drive discussion on how to advance AI while protecting the privacy and security of consumers,” writes Tom Gruber, head of advanced development for Siri, Apple, in a statement on the Partnership on AI website.
Apple’s arrival to the Partnership on AI board suggests that the non-profit group will not limit its developments to software but would also add hardware. Facebook and Google are already promoting open source in the AI field. The Cupertino giant might echo the same tone and bring its Swift-alike offerings for the community.
New members to construct AI future
In addition to Apple, six independent board members and some inaugural Board of Trustees have joined the Partnership on AI. The list of independent members includes entities from Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence and ASU, UC Berkeley, American Civil Liberties Union and MacArthur Foundation. Notably, a member from OpenAI, which is a $1 billion initiative by Tesla co-founder Elon Musk, has also debuted on the board.
“This is a pivotal moment for the Partnership on AI, as we establish a diverse and balanced Board of Trustees that extends and broadens our existing leadership,” the group concludes in the official statement.
