What Does Apple New Artificial Intelligence Bring?

At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) held last June, Apple unveiled its plan to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its iPhones starting with iOS 18. This integration will follow the launch of the new iPhone generation, the iPhone 16 series.

With this announcement, Apple has officially entered the AI race in the smartphone industry, albeit a bit late compared to competitors like Samsung and Google Pixel, which have already introduced AI capabilities in two previous generations of phones. However, this delay has not dampened the anticipation and excitement for these new features coming to various Apple devices. Apple’s reputation for introducing established technologies in innovative and captivating ways has only added to the interest.

What is Apple Intelligence?

Apple has branded its AI integration as “Apple Intelligence,” a platform that offers iPhone users access to a variety of AI-enhanced features. Contrary to some expectations, Apple is not releasing a completely new or standalone AI system. Instead, the company has decided to collaborate with OpenAI to deliver these features. This means that “Apple Intelligence” serves as a new interface for using an enhanced version of ChatGPT directly on iPhones, as was announced at the conference.

This approach mirrors the AI strategies of other smartphone manufacturers. For example, Google has chosen to use its proprietary AI, “Gemini,” in its Pixel phones, while Samsung has also collaborated with ChatGPT to bring AI features to its smartphones.

The “Apple Intelligence” platform introduces several unique features that enhance the performance of existing apps by integrating them with ChatGPT’s capabilities, such as text generation and image processing. These features are similar to those found in other AI-powered smartphones.

Key Features of Apple Intelligence

At the core of Apple’s AI platform is “Siri,” the company’s renowned voice assistant. Siri is getting a complete overhaul, with a new interface and enhanced features that leverage AI capabilities. Siri is now more deeply integrated into Apple’s operating system, allowing it to access data and features across different apps seamlessly. For instance, you can ask Siri to compose a message for someone, schedule it to be sent at a specific time, generate the text, and send it through multiple platforms without needing to open those apps manually. Similarly, you can ask Siri to edit a photo in your gallery and then send it to someone via messaging apps, all after making the edits.

Additionally, Siri can directly access ChatGPT technologies, granting it a broader understanding of various languages and improving its ability to respond to voice commands. For example, you can ask Siri to summarize messages, conversations, and meetings directly through voice commands.

Other official Apple apps are also receiving AI upgrades. The Photos app, for instance, gains AI-based image editing features, while the Documents app benefits from generative AI writing capabilities. The Messages and Mail apps are also set for comprehensive changes.

Privacy and Data Handling Concerns

The integration of AI into smartphones and, by extension, access to stored data raises privacy concerns among experts due to the significant expansion of these features into text, message, and photo analysis. Apple’s continuous claim that its devices offer superior privacy protection compared to competitors has been put to the test.

To address these concerns, Apple has clarified that all AI operations requiring access to private user data will occur directly on the device, without relying on cloud-based AI servers. This is the same approach the company has taken with Siri’s features for several years.

Apple distributes its AI features across two different models. The first model is “Siri,” which handles its usual tasks internally within the phone, assisted by ChatGPT locally. The second model involves features that Siri cannot handle, which require using ChatGPT servers while concealing and safeguarding user data.

It’s challenging to predict the outcomes of Apple’s innovative approach before it is officially tested by privacy experts. However, if Apple succeeds, this could represent a significant step forward in addressing one of the most pressing concerns associated with AI features in general.

Will AI Reach All iPhones?

As usual, iOS 18 will be available for all supported iPhone devices, starting from the iPhone XR to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, this does not mean that all these devices will benefit from AI features. Due to the high processing power required for AI features and the new Siri enhancements, AI capabilities will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Additionally, these features will be available on iPads running the M1 chip or later, as well as laptops and desktops using the same processors.

Apple has likely chosen the more powerful devices capable of handling AI features. There may also be a marketing aspect to this decision, but it is certain that all iPhones released from the iPhone 16 onwards will have full access to AI features.

When Will Apple Intelligence Be Released?

Officially, Apple Intelligence features will be rolled out with iOS 18, coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 16 series. However, these features will not be fully available in September, as some will arrive later.

The true AI capabilities will begin to roll out gradually through a series of software updates, following Apple’s usual practice with major updates and features. The first of these updates is scheduled for release in October, with another in December that will integrate ChatGPT into the system. Finally, some generative AI features are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2025.

In summary, the full rollout of Apple’s AI capabilities will not be complete until the end of March 2025. Although these features are among the most important selling points for the new iPhone 16 generation, comprehensive testing of these features may not occur until they are fully deployed. The final assessment might be delayed until all features are available.

Source :aljazeera