Apple is reportedly planning a gradual rollout schedule for Apple Intelligence features on its new operating systems for iPhones, iPads and Macs. According to a Bloomberg report, artificial intelligence (AI) features unveiled at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2024 will be available in preview when iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia officially launch around September.
Apple generally rolls out the full version of iOS to new iPhone models. However, the report states that many new features, especially AI-powered tools that the company calls Apple Intelligence, will be available in preview on the iPhone 16 series models. Additionally, Apple Intelligence features will likely only work in US English and users may have to join a waitlist to access some of the new features.
According to the report, this rollout strategy will buy Apple more time to refine its features. For example, starting with American English gives Apple time to train its AI model in other languages while also getting feedback from the existing version. Furthermore, Apple is still working on building out its cloud infrastructure to handle heavier AI workloads, and having too many users at once in the early stages could be very risky.
iOS 18: AI features for initial rollout
While many new features won’t be available in the first version of iOS 18, when it’s likely to roll out in September, it will still include some upgrades. According to the Bloomberg report, the first version of iOS 18 is likely to get AI-powered notification summaries. Additionally, it is expected to get web page, email, and notes summaries features. A number of image generation tools, including custom emojis called “Genmojis”, are also expected to arrive for the first iOS 18 update.
iOS 18: Apple Intelligence Timeline
Apple will likely continue to add AI capabilities with every update in 2024. While some features, like Categories in the Mail app and more, will likely be available to users by the end of the year, others won’t be available until 2025. According to the report, Apple’s AI-enabled digital assistant Siri won’t be ready until next year. While the redesigned interface for Siri and the ability to type in directions will likely be available in late 2024, capabilities like contextual understanding, in-app feature control, and on-screen awareness will arrive next year.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT integration into iOS is likely to happen in late 2024. Meanwhile, Apple is looking to add more third-party AI service providers to its catalog of available AI chatbots. According to the report, Apple is considering a deal with Google and Amazon-backed Anthropic to add Gemini and Claude AI chatbots to its operating systems. Moreover, the Cupertino-based tech giant is also looking at potential partners in China, such as Baidu and Alibaba, to offer similar services in the country.
First print: June 17, 2024 | 11:47 am IST