Key learning points
- The AI features in iOS 18 run on the device, ensuring data privacy and faster response times.
- Apple may partner with cloud-based services for AI functions that require more data processing.
- iOS 18 also brings new features like customizable app icons, RCS support, and upgrades to Apple Maps and Notes.
It looks like AI will be a major focus at WWDC 2024 this summer. While companies like Microsoft and OpenAI have led the way in AI, Apple hasn't announced any AI features for its devices. But that could change soon, as reports say Apple has been working on AI features iOS 18 and other updates. Now, a new report from reliable Apple leaker Mark Gurman says that Apple might use its own large language model (LLM) running on the device for these AI features.
WWDC 2024: iOS 18, AI, visionOS 2 and what else to expect
Apple's WWDC 2024 takes place the week of June 10-14, 2024, and here's everything we expect to see at this year's Apple developer conference.
In the latter Power On NewsletterMark Gurman has reported that “all indications” point to AI features in iOS 18 being “completely on-device”. This means that instead of relying on cloud services like most AI-based services now, the AI features in iOS 18 will work offline without using the internet.
Why is on-device AI so important?
Why is on-device AI so important? That's because none of the data on your phone leaves your device or is processed in the cloud, so your data remains protected. All data is processed on your device, allowing the functions to work even without internet access. If tuned properly, this will also help with faster response times for certain tasks and improved reliability, as the data is processed locally on the device rather than sent to cloud-based servers.
While some features may be limited compared to the AI services that rely on massive cloud server farms, the benefit is that your data privacy remains intact. As for the features that Apple needs to “fill in the gaps,” Gurman previously reported Apple is looking for a cloud-based partner, such as Google and Baidu, to integrate their AI engine on the iPhone. How Apple implements AI in the upcoming software updates remains to be seen.
Other iOS 18 features
In addition to AI features, iOS 18 is also said to bring a number of other upgrades. For the first time, Apple will allow users to freely place app icons on the home screen instead of arranging them sequentially. Additionally, iOS 18 would finally bring support for RCS on iPhone, allowing for better, feature-rich text messaging between Android and iPhones. Apple Maps and Notes are also said to be getting some powerful features.
Apple is expected to showcase iOS 18 among other software upgrades at WWDC on June 10, 2024. What features do you hope to see in the next version of iOS? Let us know in the comments below!
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