Apple Considered AI-Powered iPhone Home Screen

[MacRumors]

Apple considered introducing a new Apple Intelligence feature that would dynamically re-arrange apps on the Home Screen.

The detail emerged in a report last week from The Information, which said that subordinates of software chief Craig Federighi approached him with proposals for an AI-powered iPhone Home Screen. The feature would dynamically change the locations of apps on the Home Screen according to users' needs. Federighi reportedly rejected the idea, believing that it would disorient users, many of whom rely on knowing the fixed location of apps on their Home Screen for quick access.

With iOS 26, Apple prioritized new Apple Intelligence features that included Live Translation, more powerful Visual Intelligence, ChatGPT image generation in Image Playground, and actions in Shortcuts. Broader and more capable Apple Intelligence features are expected to arrive later this year with iOS 27, such as a Siri chatbot powered by Google Gemini.

The rest of The Information's report focused on how Apple restructured its artificial intelligence strategy under Federighi, accelerating plans to overhaul Siri by relying on external AI models after years of internal delays and organizational friction.


Article Link: Apple Considered AI-Powered iPhone Home Screen

 

[yuvaldv1]

Unsurprising that this was rejected. Who would want their app locations to be shuffled all the time?

 

[zorinlynx]

This is probably the worst idea I've ever heard of. Home screen is a big use of muscle memory for me. Heck I've even accidentally rearranged apps and then would launch the wrong app because I was so used to tapping at that location.

Stop trying to shove AI into everything!

 

[turbineseaplane]

Glad this went nowhere.

Horrendous idea.

 

[sw1tcher]

. . . subordinates of software chief Craig Federighi approached him with proposals for an AI-powered iPhone Home Screen. The feature would dynamically change the locations of apps on the Home Screen according to users' needs.

Dumb subordinates. Who would want a home screen where the apps are randomly rearranged, making it harder to find the app you want?

iOS 26 Liquid Ass April Fools edition?

 

[Moonjumper]

Dynamic positioning is a terrible idea. It is much easier to find something if it is always in the same place. It is why the site listing based on most used is so useless in Safari.

 

[Zwhaler]

This is a classic example of bandwagoning off of the current hype trend "AI" and creating solutions in search of a problem as a result. The same thing happened with NFTs after bitcoin popped. Luckily nobody is being forced to use this terrible idea.

 

[Attirex]

omg such a bad idea. What’s next, more app store ads?

 

[sw1tcher]

Hey, Apple subordinates. How about an AI-powered calendar app that randomly rearranges your appointments and meetings? 🤦‍♂️

 

[FoxBJK]

The Siri Suggestions widget is plenty for this. Good on Craig for saying 'no'.

 

[DanteHicks79]

Thank god he shot this down. This obsession with AI is a solution trying to find a problem.

 

[rappr]

Back in the day, I moved a couple of family members onto Windows Phone. The number one thing they hated was the flipping tiles on the homescreen making it hard to find their apps.

 

[foneschlomo]

I sort of do this now -- my main Home Screen has a Smart Stack on it that tries to guess the app I want at any given time. It works pretty well, to be honest. It knows I'm going to do the NYT puzzles in the morning, or that I might do a workout. But I don't really use the Home Screen as an app picker much when I want to use an app, I just spotlight it.

 

[Will Co]

What a truly awful idea. How did anything think that would have been a wanted feature? Don't these people use their own products?

 

[Velin]

I’d terminate this AI feature as fast as I terminate the other one, Apple Mail “categories” and the useless grouping + icons.

 

[kk1ro]

I moved from Windows to Linux on my (mainly gaming-focused) desktop PC, due Microsoft's incessant pushing of useless and potentially harmful (privacy-wise) AI features. I'm seriously hoping Apple doesn't jump on the same bandwagon with the next versions of iOS and macOS, or I'll be looking into saying goodbye to their hardware/software/services next.

 

[seviu]

I got a million apps and seriously having something that lets me arrange once would be a life saver

 

[BabyBoii]

apple is so late to the AI game it's insane. ultimate fumble.

 

[thefredelement]

This reminds me of the feature that rearranges virtual desktops based on usage, I can't stand it and always turn it off.

 

[ricketysquire]

Meanwhile the rest of us in the real world: Hey can you fix all those bugs and performance issues?

 

[one more]

As others have mentioned, we get so accustomed to icon locations that this dynamic arrangement would be confusing.

If you want to get an idea of what it is like, just look at the Siri Suggestions bar at the top of the screen when we scroll from the top of the Home Screen down, as that section is dynamically populated. As it contains two rows of recently used apps, we can also make the whole page with a stack of these three “Siri Suggestions” rows. I also remember Macrumors article on it a while back.

 

[Ctrlos]

A silly idea, but howabout this: on device setup you are given a couple of exercises to see how far a single thumb reaches into the screen and then the on-device AI personalises the entire UX making nothing out of reach when using a phone one-handed.

Software 'designers' always seem to have skipped their ergonomics class when it comes to building apps. No, I can't reach the top-left of the screen with a thumb. Stop putting things up there.

 

[one more]

apple is so late to the AI game it's insane. ultimate fumble.

The AI game itself might be overrated, time will tell.

 

[Slix]

If this was an extension of the Smart Stack for widgets, it could be useful as an option for a widget or something, but I have such ingrained muscle memory over the last 17 years of using a similar home screen on my devices that I can use it without looking, and when I use someone else's device I can't even find the Settings app quickly. I don't want my apps randomly moving around. 😛

 

[crees!]

A version of this would be great. You’re shopping and you want the app of the stores you’re near to be available. Or like me, I use Focuses to have different apps on my single Home Screen depending on the time of day.