Realizing that it can no longer ignore AI, Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence at WWDC: a set of AI features for its phones and computers that are very similar in functionality to those previously introduced by competitors, but better integrated.

Eighteen months after the launch of ChatGPT, Apple has come to the conclusion that it cannot be left behind. The phone and computer specialist will present itself at WWDC 2024 Apple Intelligence. This is a suite of AI solutions for iPhone, Mac and iPad. The new features are based on the features that Google and Microsoft introduced last year. To get started, you need a modern Apple device.

Excellent integration

Nothing Apple announces in Apple Intelligence is new, but almost everything is better integrated than implementations that exist today. Apple’s intelligent features work across the entire Apple ecosystem and take into account the user’s personal context (based on email, calendar, contacts, messages, etc.).

To start, you can use your iPhone to ask questions that have cross-app implications. Apple gives some examples: “Show the files Joz shared with me last week” or “Play the podcast my wife sent me recently.”

Such voice commands require a deep understanding of the issue and the relevant applications behind it. They show how Apple Intelligence is integrated into the iPhone itself and not just a separate app on it. In addition, the AI ​​functionality helps improve the operating system. In this way, Apple can recognize which notifications have priority, analogous to what has been found on Android for several years.

Image generation without prompts

Apple also introduces image generation, directly in applications and again with contextual understanding. This way you can create a cartoon of a birthday contact and send it as a birthday card. You can also generate custom emojis. This feature hides behind its spooky name Genmoji.

A beautiful picture requires a good prompt and Apple takes this challenge out of the users’ hands. You can Image playground Select components such as places, objects and characters and Apple Intelligence will generate some images based on them.

Apple is also using the new GenAI features to help you write. You can rewrite, summarize or correct emails using AI, analogous to what Google and Microsoft introduced previously. Apple adds another useful detail: in the Mail app, Apple Intelligence does not display the first sentence of an email under the subject, but a short summary of the content.

ChatGPT

Apple has also signed a deal with ChatGPT to integrate the chatbot into iOS, macOS and iPadOS. GPT-4o will become a sort of second-line helper for Siri, where Siri will call ChatGPT to resolve questions it doesn’t know the answer to.

This only happens with your explicit consent, as Apple prides itself on not using or sharing consumer data. Apple Intelligence solves AI-related questions on your device where possible, or in the cloud when necessary. In the latter case, you must send relevant data to the cloud for processing in a timely manner, but Apple insists that this processing be done privately and no data is stored.

In autumn and not for everyone

The novelties that Apple is announcing at WWDC 2024 are not immediate. The company will introduce them starting this fall for iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and MacOS Sequoia, provided the underlying hardware is an iPhone 15 Pro (Max) or an iPad or Mac with an Apple M1 or newer. In addition, the system language must be set to English. The functionality will be available free of charge to those who have the right hardware and software.