Apple says AI and 3D printing helped build the hinge in its Duo phone

In short: Apple says it used AI and 3D printing to design and manufacture the hinge for its new foldable phone, the Duo.

What happened

Apple introduced its first foldable phone, called the Duo. Foldable phones bend in the middle like a book, which puts extra stress on the screen and hinge over time.

Apple says the Duo’s hinge was designed and built with help from AI and 3D printing. AI, short for artificial intelligence, is software that can spot patterns and make choices quickly (like a very fast quality inspector).

According to Apple hardware chief Johny Srouji, the company uses AI during manufacturing to match each individual hinge with the best-fitting phone body so the parts line up correctly. Apple also said it uses a laser scanner to measure the surface of each unit, then 3D prints up to 25 tiny layers of a custom material to smooth out small uneven areas.

Apple also described other physical protections. These include a “nano-texture” finish to reduce glare and reflections, plus a multi-layer approach meant to improve durability.

Why it matters

Foldable phones are popular, but many have had complaints about wear and tear because the folding parts get used constantly. Apple is saying it is using extra manufacturing steps to reduce those problems, but real-world testing over months and years will show whether the Duo holds up.

Source: TechCrunch AI