Apple could use its own on-device LLM for AI features in iOS 18

newadx4

5 months ago

Key learning points

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 seems like AI will be a major focus at WWDC 2024 this summer. While companies like Microsoft and OpenAI have been leading the way in AI, Apple has yet to announce any AI features for its devices. But that could change soon, as reports say that Apple has been working on AI features for iOS 18 and other updates. Now, a new report from reliable Apple leaker Mark Gurman says that Apple may be using 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. Below, read about everything we expect to see at this year’s Apple Developer Conference.

In the last Power On NewsletterMark Gurman reported that “all indications” point to AI features in iOS 18 being “fully on-device.” This means that instead of relying on cloud services like most AI-based services currently do, AI features in iOS 18 will work offline without using the internet.

Why is on-device AI so important?

So, why is on-device AI such a big deal? Well, that’s because none of your phone’s data leaves your device or is processed in the cloud, keeping your data protected. All of the data is processed on your device, allowing features to work even without internet access. If tuned properly, this will also help with faster response times for certain tasks and improved reliability since the data is processed locally on the device instead of being sent to cloud-based servers.

While some features may be limited compared to AI services that rely on massive cloud server farms, the benefit is that your data privacy remains intact. For the features where Apple needs to “fill in the gaps,” Gurman previously reported that Apple is looking for a cloud-based partnersuch as Google and Baidu, to integrate their AI engines into the iPhone. How Apple implements AI in its upcoming software updates remains to be seen.

Other iOS 18 Features

In addition to AI features, iOS 18 is said to bring a number of other upgrades as well. For the first time, Apple will allow users to freely place app icons on the home screen, rather than having them arranged sequentially. Additionally, iOS 18 is said to finally bring support for RCS to the 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 announce iOS 18 along with other software upgrades at WWDC on June 10, 2024. What features are you hoping to see in the next version of iOS? Let us know in the comments below!

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