A new report claims that Apple considers iOS 18, which should feature generative AI technology, the most significant update in the company’s history.
“I’m told that the new operating system is seen within the company as one of the biggest iOS updates—if not the biggest—in the company’s history,” Mark Gurman wrote in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg.
He stopped short of revealing some of the surprises that iOS 18 might bring but promised to share additional details in future write-ups.
iOS 18 could be the biggest iPhone update yet
“Apple’s head of software engineering, Craig Federighi, told employees last year that the iOS 18—codenamed Crystal—will have ambitious changes all around,” he wrote.
In one of earlier Power On newsletters, Gurman wrote that iOS 18 will deliver “major new features and designs,” coming “after a few years of modestly sized updates.”
“The iOS update also needs to be extra-impressive because the iPhone 16’s hardware won’t have any major advances next year. So Apple is banking on the software to sell people on the new models.”
Generative AI features coming to iPhone
The New York Times reported earlier that Apple was developing a large language model (LLM) akin to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, known internally as AppleGPT.
The Information added that adopting an LLM would allow Siri to automate multi-step tasks, such as creating an animated GIF from a series of photos and sharing it with a friend over iMessage. Basically, an LLM would enable Siri to parse complex commands into a series of actions that could be chained together.
Gurman added more context to the rumor by saying Apple plans to infuse Siri and certain apps with generative AI features. But how might that work exactly?
In the Music app, Gurman explains, generative AI could generate playlists. Meanwhile, Apple’s productivity software like Pages could gain a writing assistant while Keynote would automatically create slide decks based on AI prompts.
Almost half of Apple’s job ads reference AI, machine learning or deep learning
Based on Apple’s job ads, research papers and investments in AI startups, The Financial Times suggests Apple is ramping up efforts to bring ChatGPT-style generative features to its iPhone.
Analyst Daniel Ives of Wedbush Securities told the publication that the Cupertino company is getting ready to do some significant acquisitions.
“I’d be shocked if they don’t do a sizeable AI deal this year, because there’s an AI arms race going on, and Apple is not going to be on the outside looking in,” he said.
iOS 18 will be previewed in June
Plus, we know from Apple itself that the company will adopt the RCS protocol to enhance the messaging experience between iPhone and Android. The company should preview iOS 18 with generative AI features at the WWDC24 in June, with the update releasing to the public in the fall.