With the launch of Apple’s synthetic intelligence software at WWDC this week, Tim Cook and his team are positioned to take on AI-enabled smartphones in the long run. However, the iPhone remains woefully ill-equipped to offer so-called Apple Intelligence to the network, and Apple has only itself to blame.
Apple Intelligence will come with iOS 18. The operating formula will be the iPhones of the last six years, starting with the iPhone XR and iPhone XS presented in October 2018. Still, the AI component will only be available on the iPhone 15 Pro. and the iPhone. 15 Pro Max, any of the phones with Apple Silicon A17 Pro.
This cuts out hundreds of millions of iPhones from the latest technology. It contrasts badly with the Mac platform, where every Mac with an Apple Silicon Mxx chip will support Apple Intelligence. This stands in contrast to the competition. Samsung’s Galaxy AI was launched in January 2024 and debuted across the brand new Galaxy S24 family. It was also back-ported to older Galaxy models, including the full Galaxy S23 range, Z Fold5 and Z Flip5, and the popular Tab 9 tablets.
The brave new world of artificial intelligence needs a processor with dedicated silicon to accelerate AI routines. Apple Silicon has the Neural Engine to handle that part of the equation. But it’s the other part that has damaged the iPhone’s ability to deal with the generative nature of Apple Intelligence. Memory.
Without enough memory, it is necessary to run AI on a cellular device with an adequate performance point.
Apple has always kept the iPhone specifications opaque, but it is a truth almost universally acknowledged that it has always skimped on. iOS’ need for less memory compared to Android has been cited by many, and the lower bill of materials has contributed to Apple’s financial success.
This is not an option for millions of iPhone users. Unless they invest in the high-end iPhone starting in September 2023, they won’t be able to unlock Apple Intelligence’s insights. Many expected AI to come to their iPhone only to realize that Apple’s decision to offer lower memory levels on older iPhones has weakened their iPhone in 2024. For them, the AI glass is partially empty.
Of course, it’s also very easy to see this with the full glass part of an accountant during a time of AI-driven growth; the vast majority of Apple’s compromised network has gained some other slice of the FOMO pie. If they need to use Apple Intelligence, they will have to buy a new iPhone.
Now, the latest headlines from WWDC in Forbes’ weekly Apple Loop news roundup. . .
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