Apple has announced the release of new iPad tablets that have been redesigned with a powerful AI chip, signaling its readiness to integrate artificial intelligence into its devices. The latest version of the iPad Pro features a new chip called the M4, which is more powerful than the current chip used in Apple’s laptops and is capable of handling more AI tasks. This marks the end of the company’s longest period without upgrades since the tablet’s launch in 2010.
Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, Johny Srouji, has stated that the new chip makes the iPad Pro the most powerful device of its kind. Apple is expected to make additional AI-related announcements at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, where the M4 chip may play a significant role.
Apple has been criticized for being slow to embrace AI technology, with Microsoft surpassing it as the world’s largest company by market capitalization. Microsoft has fully embraced AI technology, incorporating AI-enhanced versions of its software and applications and providing tools like Copilot chat functionality to its cloud computing clients. Analysts anticipate that the capabilities of this new chip will extend to other Apple products such as iPhones and laptops. In fact, CEO Tim Cook highlighted the importance of generative AI across all Apple product lines following their latest earnings report.
The release of these new iPads with an advanced M4 chip represents a major step forward for Apple in integrating AI into their devices. With this move, they are positioning themselves as a leader in this rapidly evolving field and demonstrating their commitment to innovation and excellence.