Report: Apple working on AI chip


Bloomberg:

Apple is working on a processor devoted specifically to AI-related tasks, according to a person familiar with the matter. The chip, known internally as the Apple Neural Engine, would improve the way the company's devices handle tasks that would otherwise require human intelligence -- such as facial recognition and speech recognition

Currently, iOS's computer learning/artificial intelligence functions are handled by the main CPU and perhaps GPU processors. It's speculated that a dedicated AI process would allow for specialized functions that could save battery life. Rather than firing the CPU, the AI chip would perhaps more efficiently handle the tasks.

It could also be possible that similar to Apple's Secure Enclave, an AI chip could allow for stronger privacy if it were able to wall off functions from the rest of the device.