On-device AI emerges as a major industry trend spearheaded by HONOR and Apple

Gulf Network

At the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), Apple unveiled new AI announcements to embrace on-device AI that protects users’ privacy by processing data directly on the device and makes user experiences personal.

But Apple is not the first smartphone manufacturer to introduce on-device AI to smartphones. The industry has been led by pioneering Android smartphone players like HONOR, which unveiled its on-device AI approach earlier this year and recently grabbed headlines at trade shows like Mobile World Congress (MWC) and Viva Tech.

Described by CNN as “reimagining the way we use our smartphones,” and BBC as being “transformational for the way in which we engage with devices in the future,” experts see HONOR’s AI approach as the way forwards for the smartphone industry. Before WWDC, Tom’s Guide predicted that Apple would take a “very similar” approach to HONOR, and now Apple’s conference has taken place, we can see that Apple is very much following in HONOR’s footsteps.

Apple Following HONOR’s Path of Intent-based AI, Multimodal Interaction and Protecting Users’ Privacy

HONOR unveiled its four-layer AI strategy earlier this year, and industry experts are noting that Apple’s approach bears a striking resemblance. Both brands see on-device AI as an important way to protect users’ privacy by processing personal data on the device rather than in the cloud.

Both brands also recognize the potential of on-device AI to really draw personal context and provide users with the relevant and personalized services.

While Apple unveiled Apple Intents this time, HONOR’s MagicOS 8.0 launched earlier was called the industry’s first intent-based UI. Its Magic Portal feature anticipates users’ intent and streamlines complicated processes into a single step across apps.

“Every day your devices are accompanying you and learning about you, and considering how to empower and help you,” said George Zhao, the CEO of HONOR, in an interview with CNN.

HONOR's Pioneering Four-layered Approach to AI 

Unveiled at Viva Tech in May, HONOR’s pioneering AI approach prioritizes local processing wherever possible. The first layer is Cross-device and Cross-system, ensuring seamless connectivity between devices. Secondly, the Platform-level AI layer understands user preferences and enhances usability. The third layer is Application-level AI, used for tasks like image segmentation and video rendering. Lastly, the Cloud-based AI layer leverages large AI models from the cloud, delivering advanced AI functionalities and experiences on the device.