Bloomberg: iOS 18 Advanced AI Features Likely to Be Opt-In Service

[alchemistmuffin]

Apple's decision to partner up with another company to deliver advanced AI features reportedly came after it hit a wall in its own artificial intelligence. Apple is known to have been working on its own large language model (LLM), the algorithm that underpins generative AI, and found that it could power basic features like voice memo transcriptions, photo editing, new Safari search capabilities, and Message auto-replies. However, Apple is said to have realized "early on" that competitors like Google and OpenAI were "far ahead in chatbots and on-the-fly assistance."

And one more thing: Apple wants its own LLM to be all done on device and not on the cloud. And most advanced function that ChatGPT and Google has in terms of AI that is done on a cloud, Apple wants to do it all on device should it come to all done via its own LLM.

Unfortunately even though M4, M3 and A17 Pro chips have very advanced neural engine capable of running good chunk of advanced AI on device, for Apple’s standard, it’s still not powerful enough to run what cloud based AI like ChatGPT and Gemeni can do, on device. It’ll be till A18 or A19/M6 or M7 chip that Apple has very powerful neural engine capable of running powerful LLM engine and AI models all on-device and not in the cloud.

(Yes, true to Apple’s standard, they won’t release a feature that’s already on other phones until Apple perfects it their way, and most of the time, Apple does perfect the feature)

 

[pksv]

To be fair internet has proven quite bad and for large parts useless. Just look at what social media is doing to kids mental health and how much time people waste watching YouTube or other ahem... video sites.

Electricity has proven quite bad and for large parts useless because look what red light districts and night clubs are doing to people.

 

[ab2c4]

I'm glad to hear this as I don't want it on my 16 Pro that I plan to buy. Just one less thing that can cause problems.

 

[Macalway]

I'm just glad I'm just a consumer and not working in a field that looks like it's filled with a bunch of crazy people.

" Warning: We will sell you this but it may destroy you, so sorry"

 

[SmugMaverick]

And one more thing: Apple wants its own LLM to be all done on device and not on the cloud. And most advanced function that ChatGPT and Google has in terms of AI that is done on a cloud, Apple wants to do it all on device should it come to all done via its own LLM.

Unfortunately even though M4, M3 and A17 Pro chips have very advanced neural engine capable of running good chunk of advanced AI on device, for Apple’s standard, it’s still not powerful enough to run what cloud based AI like ChatGPT and Gemeni can do, on device. It’ll be till A18 or A19/M6 or M7 chip that Apple has very powerful neural engine capable of running powerful LLM engine and AI models all on-device and not in the cloud.

(Yes, true to Apple’s standard, they won’t release a feature that’s already on other phones until Apple perfects it their way, and most of the time, Apple does perfect the feature)

Gemini nano on Pixel 8 series says hello, All the AI you need for a mobile device is already on Android.

Let's be honest here, apples bluster about ML on their chips has been utter rubbish for years and the lack of RAM has come home to roost for Timmy.

I just want image eraser, audio eraser, dictation transcribing, smart replies, email summaries, far better keyboard, circle to search.

My Pixel 8 can do that but my nearly double the price iPhone 15 Pro just has a stupid useless island at the TOP of the screen just out of reach one handed.

great

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

"Opt-in" sounds to me like it's going to be a new service with a monthly fee or only be available as a part of either Apple One or some of the most expensive iCloud+ plans. You then opt in and pay an extra fee on top of your Apple One or iCloud+ plan. Non-AI bundles will still be available.

Apple giving every iOS 18 user free AI and paying server costs out of pocket only makes sense if its competitors offer the same with no monthly fees for AI.

But I do expect Apple maybe offering this service for free for a few months, to get us hooked. Or maybe because it's going to be super buggy and "in-beta" initially.

Yep. Where there's new "services" bucks, Apple will certainly seek to maximize. After all, new vaults #126-135 need filling with cash.

Siri has always been free yet hit servers. I’d be shocked if AI had any sort of fee.

Siri was born in an Apple that seemed to prioritize dazzling customers with "just works" products above all else. Delighting shareholders appeared to only be a byproduct of that.

Modern Apple seems to ONLY care about shareholders and thus will strip the Mac guts out of a 27" monitor, leave the keyboard and mouse out of the box too... but then still price it the SAME as the former iMac 27"... sell $20 handkerchiefs, $1000 monitor stands, etc.

When the opportunity to do it for free (aka included) vs. monetize it, modern Apple chooses the latter. So I'll hope with what you are insinuating but I'd actually bet on ApplesAreSweet&Sour's take. It's costing Apple something to use this partners technology... so they'll pass those costs plus their near 50% margin on to us customers.

We'll see which is right soon enough.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I'm just glad I'm just a consumer and not working in a field that looks like it's filled with a bunch of crazy people.

" Warning: We will sell you this but it may destroy you, so sorry"

"Only 'a small number' of people were destroyed... so survivors, feel free to buy more of our stuff."

 

[neuropsychguy]

I think that the chatbots will work on all the iPhones that support iOS 18, since they don't run on-device.

Only the on-device stuff is rumored to be iPhone 15 Pro and onwards.

The comment was likely a sarcastic response to comments like this one calling phones obsolete because they might not be able to use a particular new feature.

 

[CarAnalogy]

This.

The utter disgusting greedy attitude towards ram from Apple has finally caught up with them.

I hope the backlash from non shill media over the lack of AI for older models is massive because Apple needs a wake up call.

But...but...my fancy Neural Engine! Apple has included the world's most advanced Neural Engine in every iPhone for years! Surely it can do...something?

 

[Jkeith85]

This AI craze is out of control.

All most people want is to edit some pictures and videos with AI.

No one care about the other AI crap they are trying to do.

 

[Jkeith85]

The number of people being so much against AI in total is staggering and makes me dumbfounded.

I'm not talking about people having doubts about this or that solution, or talking about the need for restrictions on certain implementations, or talking about safety. I'm talking about total opponents for whom AI = bad, "remove and stop it!" I'm really reliving the early '00s again. "internet bad and useless!"

It’s not going to take over the world. I think a lot of people are tired of the unfounded AI hype

 

[picpicmac]

Let's be honest here, apples bluster about ML on their chips has been utter rubbish for years and the lack of RAM has come home to roost for Timmy.

Let's be honest here, your whining is being driven by something that has nothing really to do with Tim Cook.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Subscribe to Apple One to gain the ability to "opt out of Siri AI"

😂

 

[SmugMaverick]

This AI craze is out of control.

All most people want is to edit some pictures and videos with AI.

No one care about the other AI crap they are trying to do.

Exactly, Gemini on Pixels and Galaxy is great because its useful stuff like photo editing or email summaries.

the average user does not want a freaking chat bot or cares if its on device or not, they just want cool stuff and it feels like all these leaks have Apple crapping their pants and rushing to shove some coked up Siri in our faces.

 

[turbineseaplane]

using ChatGPT, but once you start using it, Siri is 100% completely inadequate.

Siri is inadequate when compared against "nothing else at all"

 

[pksv]

It’s not going to take over the world. I think a lot of people are tired of the unfounded AI hype

It is absolutely founded, it is unfounded only for people who have read a few headlines and associate AI with a chatbot and maybe image generation only.

AI will revolutionize many industries, one quick example - medicine:

AI Discovers Drugs That May Disrupt Biotech and Pharma

It’s a matter of time before a drug designed by AI machine learning reaches the finish line and earns regulatory approval.

www.psychologytoday.com

 

[CarAnalogy]

I don’t understand your thinking as this will be the main theme for iOS 18 & you don’t want to use the features.
My question would be why upgrade to iOS 18 if you don’t want to use any of this & just stay on iOS 17

That's not really an option. Not for long anyway. Security updates will stop coming within a couple of months. Soon applications will start breaking.

I tried to stay on iPad OS 15 from before they ruined the TV app. Rapidly became a problem.

 

[Rogifan]

How is the UI for this chatbot going to work? Is it going to be separate from Siri? Will it be part of spotlight search or Safari? I don’t see anyone out there saying Apple is doomed if the new versions of their software don’t include a chatbot. The rumors around this seem very odd and not Apple like from an end user product standpoint.

 

[Jkeith85]

It is absolutely founded, it is unfounded only for people who have read a few headlines and associate AI with a chatbot and maybe image generation only.

AI will revolutionize many industries, one quick example - medicine:

AI Discovers Drugs That May Disrupt Biotech and Pharma

It’s a matter of time before a drug designed by AI machine learning reaches the finish line and earns regulatory approval.

www.psychologytoday.com

I was more referring to the average Phone user.

 

[Jkeith85]

We

Exactly, Gemini on Pixels and Galaxy is great because its useful stuff like photo editing or email summaries.

the average user does not want a freaking chat bot or cares if its on device or not, they just want cool stuff and it feels like all these leaks have Apple crapping their pants and rushing to shove some coked up Siri in our faces.

lol could you imagine your parents trying to figure out a chat bot, or even trying to explain it to them?

 

[ghanwani]

Obligatory AI headline of the day!

 

[antiprotest]

I just want a Siri I can talk to when my MacRumors friends are busy at work. 🥲

 

[pksv]

I was more referring to the average Phone user.

Ok, makes more sense.

Still, how can people say it's useless before seeing a single thing on it?

We

lol could you imagine your parents trying to figure out a chat bot, or even trying to explain it to them?

How old are your parents? They don't understand what Google is? If they do, with a short introduction they will understand chatbot too.

 

[jjudson]

A Linux-based phone becomes more appealing every day...

 

[stiligFox]

This is the best way I feel for Apple to go - makes the shareholders they're beholden to happy for jumping on the "AI" bandwagon, and gives users the ability to, by default, stay away from the "AI" bandwagon that every other tech company is jumping on...