Apple is reportedly preparing to acquire German AI startup, Brighter AI, to improve the privacy features on the recently launched Vision Pro.
Brighter AI is known for its expertise in anonymizing face and license plate data. Apple is rumored to be considering this technology to minimize the risk of capturing sensitive information using the Vision Pro.
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Apple Vision Pro Privacy Concerns
When using iPhones and iPads, capturing a photo or video is obvious since the user must angle it the right way, plus there is a chance of using a flash. However, the Vision Pro can easily sneak a shot since it can shoot media content more discreetly than other smart devices.
Apple's solution lies in the technology of the German AI startup which could promise that unconsented capturing will be prohibited in the mixed-reality headset. Upon Vision Pro's launch, Apple equipped a subtle visual cue on the front panel which indicates if it is capturing media.
Currently, Apple is already using a blurring technology for Apple Maps. This means that faces and license plates captured on a street view are shown as blurred as part of the company's image collection policy.
Brighter AI's Offer to Apple Vision Pro
The potential acquisition of Brighter AI is a big opportunity for Apple to improve its image-capturing technology. Unlike the existing policy of blurring sensitive information, the AI startup offers changes by altering the faces.
Although Deep Natural Anonymization 2.0 alters the natural look to the point of being unrecognizable, the technology promises that it will still look natural. Moreover, it has more potential for analytics and machine learning devices.
According to 9to5Mac, Brighter AI's technology promises a feature that could expand to various products. Hence, there is a possibility that Apple will use it beyond Vision Pro and Apple Maps.
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