AI 101: Apple Intelligence Will Forever Change How You Use the iPhone
Apple finally enters the AI arms race through a partnership with OpenAI
Welcome to another edition of AI 101, where every Wednesday we bring you the biggest AI update of the week.
This Week’s Update: Apple Introduces AI Features with “Apple Intelligence”
At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10th, Apple announced the release of a new AI system called “Apple Intelligence.” The system will integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4o model into both existing and new features and combine it with user information to provide more personalized actions and results.
The New Features
Siri: In one of the biggest updates from the new AI system, Siri will now have what Apple calls “on-screen awareness,” allowing it to interact with apps and access information when prompted. This might include summarizing emails, retrieving flight details, or updating contact information. Siri will also be more conversational and have the ability to maintain context between requests. If given permission, the assistant can refer directly to ChatGPT and present its answers to users.
Writing Tools: Writing Tools is a new service that will assist users when writing on Apple devices. The tool can help users rewrite, proofread, and summarize text.
Mail: The updated Mail app can provide users with summaries of long emails and prioritize messages in the inbox.
Notes and Phone Apps: The Notes and Phone apps will now be able to record, transcribe, and summarize audio files.
Image Creation and Genmojis: Users will be able to generate images and personalized emojis called “Genmojis” through Apple’s new image generation software. These images can be created through apps like Messages and Notes.
Notifications: The iPhone will determine which notifications to prioritize and summarize stacked or lengthy notifications. Apple is also introducing a new Reduced Interruptions mode that will only display urgent messages.
Photos: Users can search photo libraries for specific pictures using natural language descriptions. For example, you could search for a picture of “John wearing a blue shirt” and the AI would identify and provide you with the image.
Calculator: The Calculator and Notes apps will now be able to intuitively solve written equations in the user’s handwriting. The new Calculator app (which is finally available on the iPad) will also be able to solve equations with unknown variables as well as graph functions.
Apple has placed emphasis on protecting user data in its partnership with OpenAI. Much of the new processing will be done on devices, while more complex tasks will be handled through Apple’s own Private Cloud Compute. When information is sent to ChatGPT, OpenAI will not be able to identify the Apple user.
Why This Is Important
Generative AI has never been more personalized for individual users. Previously, most users of AI interacted with the technology through general-purpose models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude. However, Apple’s new system is able to tailor generative content to specific users by leveraging personal information, which the company already has access to through its devices.
After previously being left behind in the AI arms race, Apple is now taking advantage of the technology to compete with Microsoft and Google. By not creating its own models, Apple has also shielded itself from the risks associated with developing its own AI infrastructure. The announcement has already massively boosted the company’s stock and is positioned to improve sales once the new features are rolled out.