Apple’s secret AI and robotics lab in Switzerland

Apple has centred its Artificial Intelligence (AI) research and development projects in Europe, in Switzerland, more specifically.

Here, Apple has been working on its Apple Intelligence (AI) announced earlier this year at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

Apple’s Zurich Vision Lab, which Apple has tried to keep as secret, seems to be working on some secret research projects with a main focus on advancing AI models to integrate text and visual inputs to deliver more intuitive user interaction.

The lab is staffed by 36 former Google experts. In Zurich, the now Apple’s AI experts are working on advanced research and generative AI technology.

The work at the lab would be aimed at producing AI-powered products and machine learning models. Gen AI is in the mix.

In fact, Apple has two labs in Zurich, one of them is the Vision Lab.

The Vision Lab was established as the result of Apple’s acquisition of two Swiss AI startups: Faceshift and Fashwell.

Faceshift is a motion-capture company and its tech was used in Star Wars.

Fashwell developed an AI-powered visual search tool that allows shoppers to search for products using an image.

Other similar AI and Machine Learning startups that Apple has acquired over the last few years include, among others, Laserlike, Perceptio, and Silk Labs.

Laserlike was founded by former Google engineers and makes it easier for users to follow news on a variety of topics.

Perceptio creates Artificial Intelligence systems for smartphones.

Silk Labs is a machine learning company that provides an on-device AI platform that enables real-time visual and audio recognition.

The former Google experts hired by Apple work since 2018 on long-term AI projects.

It was back then when Apple also hired John Giannandrea as its top AI Executive.

Apple has been looking for AI and ML experts for a while, as reported by The Financial Times.

Apple continues its search for a MLOps Engineer for its Zurich Vision Lab. It’s a great opportunity to make some history in the future of tech if you are an exceptional MLOps engineer.

This is what Apple says about the Zurich Vision Lab:

The Zurich Vision Lab is an R&D team working at the intersection of modern Machine Learning and Computer Graphics. Because we integrate tightly with the hardware platform and even influence its design, we are able to build products that are extremely fast, power efficient, and accurate. We are pursuing ground-breaking fundamental research to ship features that enrich the lives of our customers — such as Persona in  Vision Pro, Portrait mode, FaceTime Eye Contact, ARKit, Memoji.

It has been reported that the Vision Lab’s work includes Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Computer Vision, Autonomous systems, and Robotics as well.

Apple robotics

Apple robotics, AI and ML divisions are reportedly working on two potential concepts for an Apple Home Robot.

Recently, Apple told its top executives that the company’s future included the smart home and mixed reality (MR). Both the smart home and MR markets are expected to expand rather quickly in the next few years.

Apple has another secret facility near its campus in Cupertino that resembles the inside of a house. Here, Apple can test future smart home prototypes, including a smart home robot.

During the second half of the year, we should already see more of the already released AI and ML features in VisionOS 2, iOS 18, WatchOS 11, iPadOS 18, MacOS Sequoia, and Safari.

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About the writer: Susan Fourtané is a science and technology journalist, professional writer, dead media archeologist, photography enthusiast, a free-spirited maverick, and sometimes a hermit. She travels capturing the essence of what she thinks it’s interesting.