Source: Fengyan Overseas
Event: Apple Developer Conference WWDC23 will be held from June 6 to 10, Beijing time. The conference may unveil new IOS17, OS systems, Mac computers, and the next generation of MR headsets.
Apple's next-generation hardware platform, MR Headset, may set sail, and Apple AI is expected to reshape the entire mobile content ecosystem.The MR headsets that Apple may release this time are a brand new category released in the past 10 years.On the hardware side, it is speculated that a dual SoC chip design including Pancake's optical scheme, a monocular 4K microOLED display, and M2 will be used. Apple's MR price may be close to 3,000 US dollars, mainly for developers and the high-end MR market, and will be equipped with a rich content ecosystem (games, fitness, collaboration, sports) and compatible with a large number of iPad applications.Furthermore, rapid switching between real and virtual worlds is achieved through a full-color perspective function and hardware knobs; furthermore, we expect that in addition to MR, WWDC Apple will be able to release AI-related products and developments this time, and Apple from MR to AI is expected to reshape the entire mobile content ecosystem.
The XR content ecosystem is expected to usher in rapid growth, and hardware platform interaction will gradually begin to be comprehensively revolutionized. We believe that although Apple's MR headsets may be priced relatively high, Apple's leading position in the content ecosystem may attract a large number of content creators to participate in MR content creation, which is expected to greatly optimize the MR content ecosystem and experience at this stage;However, the jobless design and extensive gesture sensing and interaction technology that Apple may use will give MR a completely different experience and application space for imagination from previous generations, or it will drive the comprehensive upgrade of MR from the software ecosystem to the hardware configuration, thereby accelerating the rapid penetration of consumer-grade MR,We may be peeking into how the next generation of hardware platforms interact.
MR Hardware Release Accelerates Apple's USD Format's Consensus to Become a 3D Content Base:The USDZ format, which was jointly developed by Apple and Pixar to store AR images, is also gradually becoming the core file format for 3D content. Nvidia has established the Omniverse platform based on the USD framework. Adobe, Autodesk, SketchFab, etc. will all support USD format files.
Furthermore, ARKit, as Apple's current technology reserve with a clear direction for AR, has been updated to the sixth generation. ARKit has grown into the largest AR platform under Cook's leadership. As of 22H1, it has more than 14000+ AR applications and a large number of developers.We believe that in the context of Apple's largest AR platform, MR hardware, or upcoming release, USD will become the core format for the next generation of content creator scenarios, and that the USD format combined with AI may become the biggest driver of the MR content ecosystem.
Apple MR is not just a headset, but also a multi-modal AI revolution for the entire iOS ecosystem:Apple has brought three revolutionary experiences to the world: personal computers, graphical interfaces, and smartphones. We think MR devices at this point in time will provide a complete 3D content acquisition and transmission path, while the essence of the multi-modal AI revolution is a revolution in information acquisition and transmissionTherefore, we believe that Apple MR is expected to be the starting point of the multi-modal AI revolution in the iOS ecosystem.
Apple is still a strong competitor in the AI field. Under the AIGC wave, Apple is paying more attention to privacy and localization:From the AI prototype intelligent voice assistants Siri, Video, and FaceID, Apple avoids privacy issues by deploying an algorithm model locally, and the Neural Engine in Apple's bionic chip is also a prerequisite for achieving local computing. Compared with ChatGPT and other generative AI, Apple is more sensitive to the compliance of training collected data and the protection of user data privacy.Therefore, we think that Apple's AI products may focus on improving the user's hardware experience and may still stick to localization, while Apple's entry into generative AI may exceed expectations. We are still firmly optimistic about Apple's layout in the field of AI applications and AIGC.
Investment advice:
1) We are optimistic that Apple will fully upgrade its interaction after the release of the next-generation MR hardware platform. The comprehensive layout of its content ecosystem will promote increased attention to consumer-grade MR and the prosperity of the MR content ecosystem;
2) We believe that the release of MR hardware may accelerate the USD format into the 3D content base, and that the efficient 3D content creator tool combining the USD format with AI may become the biggest driver of the MR content ecosystem;
3) Furthermore, we believe that Apple is still a strong competitor in the AI field. Unlike OpenAI, Apple's AI products may focus on improving the user's hardware experience and may still stick to localization, but we are still firmly optimistic about Apple's layout in the field of AI applications and AIGC.
It is recommended to pay attention to: Apple, Nvidia, Unity, NetEase, Gaowei Electronics, Flying Cloud, Obi Zhongguang (joint coverage of emerging industries and electronics), Perfect World, Kaiying Network, Baotong Technology, 37 Interactive Entertainment, Tom Cat, Chinese Online, Fengshang Culture, Fengyuzhu, Dafeng Industrial, Wanxing Technology (computer coverage).
Risk warning: Product launch results fell short of expectations, and AI development progress fell short of expectations.
Editor/Somer