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Apple's latest generation of flagship smartphones is now powered by generative artificial intelligence as the company adopts the latest technology that is fast gaining traction. But it remains to be seen whether or not it will appeal to users.
Apple Intelligence on the new iPhone 16 series looks very promising: it can perform tasks you would associate with generative AI, aiding in productivity and creativity, within a tightly-controlled ecosystem that includes security measures to protect user privacy.
But with generative AI limited to a small segment of mostly high-end smartphones – Samsung's new Galaxy S and Z lines and Google's Pixel 9 series – it may take a while for consumers to appreciate what the technology can do for them.
Still, Apple has the tools to help the generative AI crusade gain traction. “Apple used its marketing genius and power of storytelling to drive the 'generative AI message' home to the average consumer,” Nabila Popal, a senior research director at the International Data Corporation, told The National.
True AI integration goes beyond enhancing existing features
Morey Haber,
BeyondTrust
“This is a long-term play for Apple, and while we may not see the bigger impact immediately, Apple Intelligence will eventually change the smartphone user experience completely, like with the first iPhone.”
Apple's rather belated entrance into generative AI comes after OpenAI's ChatGPT took off early last year. After its meteoric rise, Apple could have opted to develop and release something on last year's iPhone 15, but it stuck to its strategy of waiting out and studying the market before finally making a move with Apple Intelligence this year.
Generative AI
It was only a matter of time before generative AI came to smartphones. Samsung started it with the Galaxy S24, extending it to the Galaxy Z foldables. Google followed suit with the Pixel 9 last month. Now it's Apple's turn.
“It is precisely the new services related to AI that have aroused the most enthusiasm among consumers,” said Hani Abuagla, a senior market analyst at Dubai-based investment firm XTB Mena.
“Although it is not yet expected to be able to match other major tools, such as ChatGPT, with its new releases Apple will seek to demonstrate that it will also be a major player in generative AI.”
The generative AI-powered mobile market is projected to rise more than four times to capture an 18 per cent market share of the overall smartphone industry this year, the IDC said in a report last month.
Singapore-based research firm Canalys has a close prediction of 16 per cent this year – a figure expected to jump to 54 per cent of the market by 2028, when smartphone shipments are projected to pass 1.2 billion units.
For Apple to move the needle on how generative AI is perceived by consumers, it would have to raise awareness, said Nicole Peng, senior vice president at Canalys.
“The majority of consumers right now don't know what AI can do for them,” she told The National in Cupertino.
Apple's influence on the market may also convince developers to work more closely with them. The potential for the company to spruce up the technology, as well as its allure, may be a big opportunity for app makers.
“Developers should adopt [Apple Intelligence] as it is native to Apple's apps,” especially as the company has a huge install base for certain widely used services, Ms Peng said.
Software over hardware?
In the past, smartphone makers used to entice consumers with hardware upgrades, most notably with the camera, a tool that has become omnipresent and is a key selling point to users.
With the latest shift towards generative AI, will consumer preferences shift towards the software aspects of a device?
“The days of smartphone makers solely touting megapixel counts and processor speeds are over. Now, it's about how intelligently a device can enhance your life,” Andreas Hassellof, chief executive of Dubai-based technology firm Ombori, told The National.
Sid Bhatia, regional vice president at New York-based AI company Dataiku, argues that smartphone makers need to strike the right balance between hardware and software. This may be done by creating a “symbiotic relationship where hardware enables AI's potential and AI enhances the software’s functionality”, he said.
Generative AI also provides an opportunity for smartphone original equipment manufacturers to rethink their strategies in trying to appeal to more users. There will be more hardware innovations coming in the future, but for now, AI appears to be the name of the game, experts say.
“True AI integration goes beyond enhancing existing features. The technology is about transforming user experiences in ways that are intuitive, anticipatory and contextually aware, potentially without even using a screen and icons to interface with,” Morey Haber, chief security adviser at US cyber security company BeyondTrust, told The National.
“The real question is how mobile manufacturers will balance AI advancements with the hardware evolution that has historically driven consumer decisions, legal regulations and data privacy concerns.”
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Russia v Scotland, Thursday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Zayed Sustainability Prize
THE SCORES
Ireland 125 all out
(20 overs; Stirling 72, Mustafa 4-18)
UAE 125 for 5
(17 overs, Mustafa 39, D’Silva 29, Usman 29)
UAE won by five wickets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
Melville House
The five pillars of Islam
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Aston Villa 1 (Konsa 63')
Sheffield United 0
Red card: Jon Egan (Sheffield United)
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19
July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan
Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US
Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
RESULTS
Time; race; prize; distance
4pm: Maiden; (D) Dh150,000; 1,200m
Winner: General Line, Xavier Ziani (jockey), Omar Daraj (trainer)
4.35pm: Maiden (T); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Travis County, Adrie de Vries, Ismail Mohammed
5.10pm: Handicap (D); Dh175,000; 1,200m
Winner: Scrutineer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
5.45pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
6.20pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Ejaaby, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
6.55pm: Handicap (D); Dh160,000; 1,600m
Winner: Storyboard, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap (D); Dh150,000; 2,200m
Winner: Grand Dauphin, Gerald Mosse, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8.05pm: Handicap (T); Dh190,000; 1,800m
Winner: Good Trip, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
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The years Ramadan fell in May
More on animal trafficking
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
Liverpool’s fixtures until end of 2019
Saturday, November 30, Brighton (h)
Wednesday, December 4, Everton (h)
Saturday, December 7, Bournemouth (a)
Tuesday, December 10, Salzburg (a) CL
Saturday, December 14, Watford (h)
Tuesday, December 17, Aston Villa (a) League Cup
Wednesday, December 18, Club World Cup in Qatar
Saturday, December 21, Club World Cup in Qatar
Thursday, December 26, Leicester (a)
Sunday, December 29, Wolves (h)
