Apple is focusing on privacy in its iOS 18 artificial intelligence efforts, doing the required processing on the user’s device, not in the cloud, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Gurman’s comments came in the latest edition of his weekly PowerOn newsletter, where he said that the initial group of AI features will be processed on the iPhone or Mac, with no internet connection needed.
Apple’s initial Artificial Intelligence efforts are expected to be included iOS 18 and macOS 15 later this year. Gurman says the initial AI features in iOS 18 “will work entirely on device.” That means the new features will not require an internet connection or cloud-based processing.
In related news, AppleInsider reports that the usual “individuals familiar with the matter” tell them that Gurman’s claims are accurate, as Apple continues to work on its own in-house “Ajax” large language model, or LLM.
Apple is expected to add Artificial Intelligence features to several of its apps, including Siri, Spotlight Search, Safari, and Messages.
AI tools have increasingly become popular in recent years, sparking Apple’s interest in artificial intelligence. AI development has become a priority at Apple, as it attempts to compete with other companies’ AI offerings, and as AI functions in apps have grown rapidly over the last few months.
We will likely see Apple unveil its first AI features and its future AI plans at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC24), which begins on June 10.