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Apple's democratic machine projection has morphed yet again. This fourth dimension, information technology's being described as a massive exercise in artificial intelligence that concentrates on cocky-driving. Information technology appears Apple may exist leaving the hardware part — the steel, drinking glass, and rubber car — to others.

The latest information comes from a reliable source, Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a video interview with Bloomberg TV. Cook called it "the mother of all AI projects … probably 1 of the about difficult AI projects to work on."

Apple is still in the game

Apple's interest in cocky-driving has been evident since 2022 when it launched Project Titan (internal code name) and hired 1,000-plus engineers to work on autonomous-driving technology,and possibly the vehicle, too. Apple apparently planned to farm out the manufacturing piece of work to an existing automaker. Creating a factory from scratch takes time, and often build quality in a new manufacturing plant takes time to better.

A trip to Europe to talk to BMW and Daimler (Mercedes-Benz) was said to be fruitless. Just some accounts, at that place were concerns over data protection and security of the software. There were too reports egos played a function, and none of the three blastoff dogs — Apple, BMW, Daimler — wanted to exist the underling in the human relationship.

In the Bloomberg interview, Cook was asked nearly Apple tree's plan to manufacture a car in collaboration or to sell the software to automakers, like Apple tree CarPlay, only orders of magnitude more complex. Melt said, "Nosotros'll see where information technology takes us. We're not really saying from a product indicate of view what we will practice."

Keying on artificial intelligence

"We're focusing on autonomous systems," Cook said. "Clearly ane purpose of democratic systems is cocky-driving cars. At that place are others. We sort of see it equally the mother of all AI projects. … Information technology'south probably one of the most difficult AI projects actually to work on."

Analysts suggest Melt's conscientious phrasing means Apple'south AI work might take applicability in other industries beyond cars. Cook noted, "Nosotros're non really saying from a product point of view what we will practise, but we are being straightforward that it'due south a cadre technology that we view as very of import."

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Does this hateful Apple won't build a car?

Apple's focus on the software attribute suggests information technology's out of the car-edifice concern, and instead would license its technologies to other automakers. But is it actually? It's true that building a automobile involves orders of magnitude more parts than screwing together a PC. But assuming Apple isn't building a institute from scratch — Tesla'due south Fremont, California, manufactory is really an erstwhile GM/Toyota facility — Apple doesn't have to cut deals with name automakers.

Apple could turn to Magna Steyr in Republic of austria, which has decades of feel building cars for others and in some cases treatment pre-product technology. Some reports say the big engineering team included a dozen engineers on loan from Magna Steyr.

Steyr currently produces the Mercedes-Benz G-Form (for decades) and the BMW 5 Series (starting in 2022). In 2022 it will build the Jaguar Land-Rover i-Pace, an EV. In the past, information technology has built Minis, Aston Martins, Jeeps, and Volkswagens. For those who believe Apple could build its ain car via a contract manufacturer, it'southward seen as no different from Hon Hai (Foxconn) building Apple's iPhones.

If Apple is to build a machine, it would accept to chose gas or electric. Hither'south one hint: Cook said he admires what Tesla has accomplished. "It's a marvelous experience not to stop at the filling station or the gas station," Melt said.

Apple investors would have to exist patient if Apple builds cars. It took Tesla a decade to become a roaring success and four more years to pass Ford and GM in marketplace value. It is now the fourth virtually valuable automaker (by marketplace cap), backside only Toyota, Daimler, and VW, and just alee of BMW.