Apple’s highly anticipated AI features, branded as Apple Intelligence, are coming much later than most had hoped. The features were announced as being part of the radical iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 software overhauls, but won’t actually be included in the initial September release, sources have disclosed. According to Bloomberg, these AI capabilities will be released by October, which is following the first software launch.
Apple Intelligence is delayed to ensure a sophisticated, bug-free user experience. Apple will soon make iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 betas available to developers for early access later this week. Early access will be pretty critical in letting the developers identify and fix any potential issues before the AI features make their way to the public. Historically, Apple typically doesn’t release previews of follow-up updates until around the time of the initial public release of new software generations. This is a bit of an unusual move.
In essence, Apple’s step has laid much emphasis on the fact that the developer community will play a huge role in the fine-tuning process regarding Apple Intelligence. Developers have higher stakes than usual for troubleshooting and testing at scale. Stability issues weighed in large on separating AI features from the initial iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 launch.
Timeline and beta testing
Apple announced the new features and operating systems at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Though Apple Announced the Debut of Apple Intelligence with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, the delayed timeline will keep these capabilities from being generally available until the next update. A week ago, Apple made the fourth beta of iOS 18.0 available to developers, before it finalizes development by the end of July. This timeline allows the devices to have the new software on them before they leave the factory.
Impact on iPhone 16 launch
The release strategy seems to indicate that early versions of the iPhone 16 may go out without those new AI features and have a software update. Apple Intelligence is likely to feature enhanced notification prioritization, web page and voice note summaries, improved writing tools, a completely new Siri, and elements of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
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Feature rollout and future updates
At launch with iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, a couple of Apple Intelligence’s biggest features—including the ability for Siri to leverage on-device data to offer more contextual responses—are still going to be absent. Apple is on track to release the full slate of AI features through a spate of updates starting in late 2024 and into the first half of 2025. Apple Intelligence won’t stop at just the iPhone and iPad, also coming to Mac computers with in-house Apple chips as part of macOS Sequoia. It is also in development for the Vision Pro, though a release for that device is not imminent.
Apple is pinning its hopes on AI bets, thereby competing in a fast-changing generative AI. By keeping Apple Intelligence limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and the future iPhone 16 lineup, Apple is also gambling on these features to help sell new iPhones this year. Although design changes for iPhone 16 are minimal, Apple Intelligence will certainly be one of the key software features, along with a new camera control button and faster chip that attracts consumers towards upgrading their mobile devices.
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