Apple’s software chief says new AI features rely on “blockchain” like tech
During a conversation at Apple’s WWDC event following the company’s announcement of iOS 18 and a slew of new AI-enhanced capabilities for its products, Craig Federighi, the company’s head of software, let something pretty surprising slip.
On a question about how its new AI would stay on-device and interface with AI services in the cloud, he had this to say:
“With private cloud compute, the stakes are even higher. All that personal context you need to answer a question, a bunch of information may need to be assembled to answer that question and go with it. We have a clever two-part solution.”
In a follow up to that statement, The Verge’s Nilay Patel writes that “Security will be auditable and iPhones won't talk to servers that don't have public software.” Then he reports that Federighi followed up those statements by saying “It's blockchain-ish” and “There will be a forthcoming white paper about this.”
It’s unclear if anything like actual blockchain technology is being used at this level by Apple, but the fact that one of its top executives is referencing crypto on stage might very well be a first for the iPhone maker — and could be a sign of things to come.
On a question about how its new AI would stay on-device and interface with AI services in the cloud, he had this to say:
“With private cloud compute, the stakes are even higher. All that personal context you need to answer a question, a bunch of information may need to be assembled to answer that question and go with it. We have a clever two-part solution.”
In a follow up to that statement, The Verge’s Nilay Patel writes that “Security will be auditable and iPhones won't talk to servers that don't have public software.” Then he reports that Federighi followed up those statements by saying “It's blockchain-ish” and “There will be a forthcoming white paper about this.”
It’s unclear if anything like actual blockchain technology is being used at this level by Apple, but the fact that one of its top executives is referencing crypto on stage might very well be a first for the iPhone maker — and could be a sign of things to come.
