Apple is said to be in talks to acquire Brighter AI, a German startup specializing in AI-powered image anonymization. The goal is to leverage Brighter’s technology to boost privacy protections, especially for the new Apple Vision Pro headset.
Privacy Concerns Around Apple Vision Pro Headset
Apple believes the Vision Pro raises unique privacy issues compared to an iPhone. Specifically, it’s easier to discreetly capture photos and videos with an AR/VR headset.
Even as headsets remain novelties today, Apple envisions a future where wearing them in public is commonplace. In such a scenario, the subtle front indicator light that comes on during recording may not suffice as a visual cue that footage is being captured.
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Brighter AI’s Advanced Anonymization
This is where Brighter AI’s AI comes in. Their Deep Natural Anonymization 2.0 technology can reliably alter faces and license plates to preserve anonymity without visually blurring imagery.
The resulting images retain their natural look. Blurring seems primitive by comparison.
Possibilities Beyond Apple Vision Pro Headset
The applications likely extend far beyond just Vision Pro. As Apple already blurs some imagery in Apple Maps to protect privacy, Brighter’s tech could allow de-blurring while still ensuring anonymity.
Brighter AI received its last funding round in February 2023. Neither Apple nor the startup have commented publicly on any acquisition talks. But enhanced privacy aligns closely with Apple’s values, making this a logical potential purchase.