Apple Intelligence Won’t Work on Hundreds of Millions of iPhones—but Maybe It Could
WiredJun 18
Report: Apple to Delay Launch of AI Features in iOS
Above: Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers remarks at the start of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10, 2024 in Cupertino, California. Image copyright: Justin Sullivan/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
A report from Bloomberg claims that Apple's new artificial intelligence (AI) features will have their release pushed back to October, meaning it will miss its planned inclusion in the upcoming iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 launches in September.
The AI tools, known as Apple Intelligence, were announced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference this June. It purportedly will include text and image generation, a summary maker for web pages, and AI integration for its Siri virtual assistant.
The Spin
Narrative A
This delay will be of no real import to Apple's AI plans. The real secret of the success of the company is not their innovation or willingness to be early adopters, but their tireless work to take an existing idea and make it the best on the market. It would be worse if the company released Apple Intelligence in a half-baked state, as it's poised to perhaps dominate the consumer AI market.
Narrative B
Apple is continuing to fall behind in the AI race, and this delay does not bode well for their prospects. While the company has showcased plenty of bells and whistles, questions remain as to whether or not their in-house AI models are any good, given that they are partnering with ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The iPhone maker has, for once, found itself behind the eight ball on AI.