Apple is set to leverage the vast collection of images it gathers for Maps to enhance its artificial intelligence models. According to a recently discovered disclosure by 9to5Mac, the tech giant announced that beginning this month, it will utilize images captured for its Look Around feature not only for navigation purposes but also to refine its generative AI technologies.
Look Around serves as Apple’s counterpart to Google Street View, offering users a ground-level perspective of locations. Originally introduced in 2019 as part of a major Apple Maps overhaul, the feature provides immersive, real-world views of streets and landmarks. To safeguard user privacy, Apple ensures that all identifiable faces and license plates appearing in the collected images are blurred before publication.
The disclosure further clarifies Apple’s expanding approach:
“Beyond enhancing Apple Maps and improving the algorithms responsible for anonymizing faces and license plates in Look Around images, Apple will also employ blurred imagery collected from surveys conducted starting in March 2025 to develop and refine additional products and services,” the company states. “This includes using the data to train AI models that support Apple’s range of products, with a focus on image recognition, generation, and enhancement.”
When approached for comment, Apple did not immediately respond to Engadget’s request for further details.
For those curious about Apple’s data collection efforts, the company’s Apple Maps image policy page provides an up-to-date schedule of regions where new images will be gathered. Users can sort by country and location to determine when Apple’s survey teams and vehicles will be operating in their area.
Apple has already ventured into AI-powered image generation with tools like Image Playground, which allows users with Apple Intelligence-supported devices to create custom visuals based on text prompts. Another feature, Clean Up in the Photos app, enables users to seamlessly remove unwanted objects from images.
Apple’s move aligns with industry trends, as Google has long integrated Street View images into its AI training processes. Back in 2017, for instance, Google researchers successfully trained a machine learning model to generate high-quality, professional-style photographs using imagery sourced from Street View. Now, Apple appears to be taking similar steps, ensuring its AI models benefit from real-world street-level data.
