A new report has shed light on two of the internally built technologies Apple Inc. is using to support its artificial intelligence initiatives.

The first technology, Ajax, is described as a framework for building large language models. Apple is also said to have developed a ChatGPT-like chatbot referred to internally as Apple GPT. Bloomberg, which detailed the two tools today, reported that the iPhone maker’s next step could be to roll out new AI features for consumers.

Ajax, Apple’s framework for building large language models, was reportedly created last year. Its purpose is to “unify” the company’s various machine learning development initiatives. That may mean Apple has asked its engineers to standardize their workflows on Ajax instead of using multiple, disparate AI development tools with overlapping feature sets.

The framework is said to be based on an open-source technology called Jax.

Originally created by Google LLC, Jax is an AI development tool that is itself based on two earlier open-source projects: Autograd and XLA. The former program allows developers to build neural networks using gradient descent, a popular AI training method. Jax also incorporates a tool called XLA that helps optimize neural networks’ performance.

Jax is reportedly not the only Google technology that Ajax incorporates. According to Bloomberg, the framework runs on the search giant’s public cloud platform. Google Cloud offers access to instances equipped with graphics cards as well as multiple AI development tools. 

According to today’s report, Apple has already used Ajax to build a number of machine learning features for its services. Those features were reportedly implemented in Apple Maps, Siri and certain search tools. 

The development effort is also said to have produced a ChatGPT-like chatbot referred to by the company’s engineers as Apple GPT. The chatbot can summarize text, as well as answer user questions by drawing on knowledge in its training dataset. It’s accessible to Apple employees through a web application.

According to Bloomberg’s sources, Apple has prohibited employees from relying on the tool to “develop features bound for customers.” Nevertheless, some staffers are reportedly using it to speed up product prototyping tasks. The sources added that Apple is “actively working” to enhance the chatbot’s AI models, which suggests the company may be planning to expand its use of the software.

In May, Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook signaled that the iPhone maker also plans to make AI a bigger part of its consumer portfolio. Cook told investors that “we’ll continue weaving it in our products on a very thoughtful basis.” Today’s report claims that Apple plans make a significant AI-related announcement sometime next year. 

Photo: Pixabay