You might have noticed Apple Maps survey vehicles in your neighborhood previously. As these cars navigate around, they capture images and 3D scans to create accurate data that enhances map precision and introduces features like Look Around, which is Apple’s version of Google Street View.
However, there’s now an additional purpose for the data gathered from these vehicles. In a recent update on the Apple Maps Image Collection webpage, Apple announced that beginning this month, imagery obtained from its vehicle surveys will also be utilized to train generative AI models, akin to those implemented in Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground and Clean Up.
Apple Maps gathers images via vehicle surveys using cars with extensive camera setups, as well as through pedestrian surveys where contractors traverse areas with specialized equipment carried in a backpack. The Image Collection webpage outlines Apple’s intended locations for the upcoming months; they revisit the same sites periodically to refresh their data as necessary.
The text at the top of the page remained unchanged for an extended period until earlier this month when a new paragraph was incorporated regarding the use of the data for training AI models.
Here’s the newly incorporated message:
In addition to enhancing Apple Maps and the algorithms that blur faces and license plates in images released through the Look Around feature, Apple will also leverage blurred imagery acquired during surveys from March 2025 onward to develop and enhance other Apple products and services. This encompasses utilizing data to train models that drive Apple products and services, including those related to image recognition, creation, and enhancement.
As usual, Apple maintains the privacy of individuals during the photo collection process. This entails blurring any identifiable faces or license plates. The blurred images will be what contributes to the data sources for AI.
The current suite of Apple Intelligence features comprises several distinct tools that rely on image generation models.
Clean Up, available through the Photos app, allows users to swiftly eliminate distracting elements from a photo. Image Playground enables you to input a few keywords to create a new image in styles like animation, sketch, or illustration. Meanwhile, Image Wand enhances your documents and notes by producing a corresponding image based on a rough sketch made with the Apple Pencil.
Additionally, the Photos app has significantly improved its image recognition abilities on devices that support Apple Intelligence, enhancing keyword search accuracy and facilitating the creation of Memory Movies based on user prompts.
