SAN FRANCISCO: After four decades, the Mac is still thriving and has the potential for even more success due to advancements in AI computing, with the possibility of being left behind if it doesn’t adapt.
In 1984, Apple released the Macintosh with a landmark television ad that portrayed the machine as a rebuke of a dystopian future, setting off a revolution. The machine, known simply as the Mac, became popular for its user-friendly features such as a graphical interface, clickable icons, and a mouse.
Olivier Blanchard, a research director at Futurum Group, emphasized the wide-ranging influence of the Mac, stating that every laptop and PC has attempted to imitate its success.
Initially, Macs were favored by Apple enthusiasts, artists, filmmakers, and other creative professionals. However, Windows-powered computers, with their lower cost and compatibility with vital productivity tools, dominated the corporate world.
In recent years, Apple’s expansion into the business world has been aided by iPhone users utilizing their devices for work, as well as an increased compatibility between Macs and work-related programs.
Dag Spicer, a senior curator at the Silicon Valley Computer History Museum, pointed out the Mac’s increasingly broad market, suggesting that Apple’s advertising strives to make buyers feel unique and rebellious.
Also, Apple, soon to release “spacial computing” headgear called the Vision Pro, aims to emphasize work-related uses and promote its compatibility with the Mac.
According to Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi, the company has a growing interest in the enterprise space, aligning the Vision Pro with the Mac.
AI PC Age
The Mac’s 40th anniversary comes at a time when the global PC market has diminished due to the popularity of smartphones, but it is experiencing a resurgence due to remote work trends and an increasing interest in machines optimized for AI computing.
Blanchard contended that AI computing is ushering in a once-in-a-generation shift in the PC market, with the potential to make PCs much more powerful and user-friendly by enabling generative AI capabilities on the device.
Furthermore, he likened the transformation to having a team of experts at one’s disposal while working on a computer, with the added benefit of keeping AI data protected and reducing cloud computing costs.
AI Mac?
Milanesi suggested that PCs capable of handling AI workloads on device are tapping into a popular trend, in which Apple is a participant through its development of custom chips. She also noted that Apple is likely working on its own computer chip for “AI Macs.”
Apple’s current usage of AI in its camera, Siri digital assistant, and other features indicates that it is poised to adapt to the AI computing trend, despite appearing to lag behind other companies in this area.
Given Apple’s system of controlling experiences and profiting from its offerings, analysts predict that AI Macs will be part of an interconnected Apple ecosystem. Failure to introduce an AI Mac in the near future could pose challenges for Apple, but Blanchard predicted that the company would play a unique role in the market.
He concluded, “AI is everything; Apple can’t get around that.” – AFP
