Apple has revealed that it will begin using imagery and data collected during Apple Maps Look Around surveys to train AI models powering its products and services. The company updated its website to disclose this new practice, which will commence in March 2025. The Look Around feature, similar to Google Maps' Street View, captures images and 3D data using vehicles and backpacks equipped with cameras, sensors, and other equipment, including iPhones and iPads.

As part of its commitment to privacy, Apple ensures that any images published in the Look Around feature have faces and license plates blurred. The company will only use imagery with these details removed for training models. Additionally, Apple accepts requests from individuals who want their houses to be blurred, although this is not the default setting.

The exact models that will be trained using the imagery are yet to be confirmed by Apple. However, Apple Intelligence has several features powered by AI image generation models, including Image Playground, the Clean Up tool in Apple's Photos app, and advanced image recognition that improves the Photos app's search capabilities.

This development highlights Apple's continued investment in artificial intelligence and machine learning. By leveraging the vast amount of data collected through Apple Maps, the company can improve the accuracy and capabilities of its AI models, potentially leading to enhanced user experiences across its product ecosystem.

The move also underscores Apple's focus on privacy, as the company ensures that the imagery used for training models is anonymized and does not compromise user privacy. This approach is in line with Apple's stance on privacy, which has been a key differentiator for the company in the tech industry.

As Apple continues to expand its AI capabilities, it will be interesting to see how this development impacts the company's products and services. With the use of Apple Maps Look Around photos for AI training, Apple may be able to improve the performance of its AI models, leading to more innovative and accurate features for its users.