Apple’s Vision Pro headset, a cutting-edge mixed reality device, is expected to receive an upgrade through potential generative AI integration, promising enhanced personalization and functionality. Industry experts anticipate these AI advancements to be unveiled at Apple’s upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, possibly in collaboration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Apple’s Vision Pro Headset and Generative AI Integration
Apple’s Vision Pro headset, a mixed reality device released in February 2024, is poised for an upgrade with potential generative AI integration. Despite being on the market for only a few months, industry experts believe generative AI could elevate the device, adding new levels of personalization and functionality. Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, 2024, in Cupertino, California, is expected to introduce these AI advancements, possibly in collaboration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Key applications of generative AI in the Vision Pro include an enhanced virtual assistant function, real-time language translation, improved business collaboration, and personalized fitness programs. This could help the expensive $3,499 headset, which had its production cut from an estimated 700,000 to 400,000 units annually, appeal more to both consumers and enterprises.
The release enjoys significant interest from businesses, with over half of the Fortune 100 companies purchasing the device. The headset’s current appeal lies in its unmatched user experience for watching immersive videos and interactive content. The addition of AI could further assist developers in creating more compelling content, crucial for mainstream adoption.
AI tools could transform the Vision Pro into an interactive device for various fields, including education, where teachers could create VR content aligned with their lesson plans. AI could also modify gaming by adding non-player characters to enhance social VR experiences.
While there’s optimism that AI integration will enhance the Vision Pro’s utility, experts suggest that practical business applications, such as real-time troubleshooting in field services and tailored worker training, will be significant. Apple aims to maintain competitiveness against rivals like Google and Samsung, which are already incorporating AI technology into their devices.
AI in Mourning and Grief Support
Innovative AI technology from Eternos allows people to interact with AI versions of deceased loved ones. Michael Bommer, a terminally ill 61-year-old with colon cancer, collaborated with Eternos founder Robert LoCascio to create an AI version of himself. Eternos’s technology, inspired by the Latin word “eternal,” records users speaking 300 phrases and processes the data to capture their voice, generating responses with emotional nuances.
This technology facilitates digital interactions with the deceased, addressing a growing interest in grief support AI. Other companies like StoryFile and HereAfter AI offer similar services, enabling interactive experiences with pre-recorded videos or life story avatars.
While some find solace in these AI interactions, others express concerns about potential ethical issues and the implications for the mourning process. Experts like Robert Scott, who uses AI to simulate conversations with his deceased daughters, and sociologists highlight the mixed reactions and the importance of further study on the long-term impacts of such technology.
Eternos’s services, costing $15,000 to set up, provide personalized and interactive memories for grieving families. However, the debate continues on the ethical complexities and societal impacts of using AI for immortalization and memory preservation.
