New: 'Apple Intelligence' AI Service for iOS 18 Will Have These Features

[Tagbert]

Words like “generated” and “summarized” aren’t what I was hoping for. I was hoping for a vastly improved Siri that can integrate with non-Apple apps and do it reliably. If someone takes the time to write an email to me I want to read what they wrote. If they’re sending me a generated email I don’t want to read it at all.

That is exactly the rumors about AI in Siri being able to control apps more flexibly and accurately. None of the rumor stories we are seeing here are comprehensive. Each one takes one look a the elephant and declares that it is a rope or a tree.

This should make more sense on Monday when we get a peek at what is planned. Even then, I expect this first round of features to be rolled out over several months. The Siri updates to control other apps are rumored to be coming out early in 2025. It is likely to take a couple of years of Apple developing these features and developing the AI models before it all starts to feel fully “done”. AI is so new that everyone is trying out different things to see what works and what people like. Expect a lot of experimentation in the industry for a couple of years as this stuff evolves.

 

[Tagbert]

Asked Siri for next bus local bus times between 2 locations. Showed both correct to and from locations in query but returned a route to japan? 5000 miles away

It sounds like you are ready for some real AI to make Siri better finally.

 

[Tagbert]

No it doesn’t. “Machine learning” is another hype term for better programming. Machines don’t “learn”, they’re programmed what to do. And that includes processing data without human intervention.

Machine learning and AI in general are not explicitly coded to act in specific ways. The basics are setup, goals are established, and then they are trained on data and situations. They scan the data and modify how they operate (the learning part) until they can get to the goal. It’s very different from coding a series of if-then statements.

 

[garranhado]

This will be a BIG disappointment…

Today I can use all third-party AI features with my iPhone XS and iPad Pro 2018. Apple like Apple will release a limited set of features, for 3 or 4 languages only and requiring lasted hardware.

 

[nathansz]

Machine learning and AI in general are not explicitly coded to act in specific ways. The basics are setup, goals are established, and then they are trained on data and situations. They scan the data and modify how they operate (the learning part) until they can get to the goal. It’s very different from coding a series of if-then statements.

What you are saying is certainly true of machine learning, but I would caution against conflating machine learning with ai

Ai is a marketing term and/or folk vernacular that can run the gamut from things we can’t even comprehend yet all the way to glorified predictive text

 

[Tagbert]

What you are saying is certainly true of machine learning, but I would caution against conflating machine learning with ai

Ai is a marketing term and/or folk vernacular that can run the gamut from things we can’t even comprehend yet all the way to glorified predictive text

Machine learning is one type of AI. So are LLMs. Some people expect that the only kind of AI is one that can answer trivia questions or generate meme images. Others see it as a broad range of techniques which can be used to implement and enhance all kinds of features.

 

[nathansz]

Machine learning is one type of AI. So are LLMs. Some people expect that the only kind of AI is one that can answer trivia questions or generate meme images. Others see it as a broad range of techniques which can be used to implement and enhance all kinds of features.

your sort of making my point. the broader a definition you give to a term the more meaningless it becomes

 

[Tagbert]

your sort of making my point. the broader a definition you give to a term the more meaningless it becomes

I’m not sure that we are really disagreeing. I’m just saying that AI is a broad term that covers a lot of techniques. So far, all of the features called “AI” that have been suggested as being in iOS 18 appear to be well within the definition of AI.

 

[svish]

Looking forward to seeing the changes in Siri, Safari and Photos.

 

[wanha]

Typical. Want this new service? Go drop a grand on the newest model and spend $29.99 a month for this service. No reason my 14Pro can’t handle this.

I admire the confidence with which you make these statements when we know exactly nothing of the technical details

 

[wanha]

Everyone here announcing what AI features they won’t be using as if that is a badge of honor.

virtue signaling at its finest

 

[zkap]

This is one of those situations where we're going to get something that we didn't know we wanted and then we'll love it. I expect that most people will find certain aspects of this that they will use and it will become ubiquitous. So I am not in eager anticipation, but definitely interested and it will be fun to see what this stuff will be able to do and how much time will be needed until the features are fully fleshed out.

Great time to be alive and see this stuff unfold (AI in general, not just the iPhone implementation).

 

[abatabia]

I admire the confidence with which you make these statements when we know exactly nothing of the technical details

Not my first rodeo my friend. And I would LOVE to be proven wrong.

 

[ChromeAce]

Machine learning and AI in general are not explicitly coded to act in specific ways. The basics are setup, goals are established, and then they are trained on data and situations. They scan the data and modify how they operate (the learning part) until they can get to the goal. It’s very different from coding a series of if-then statements.

As a programmer, I’m well aware of what’s going on. And I’m telling you, I can write a simple page of code that does exactly what you’re describing. It’s not learning, it’s not intelligence. It’s human-initiated behavior performing as instructed - no more, no less. Just because humans can’t predict the results doesn’t mean a machine is “intelligent” or actually “learning” because it doesn’t have a brain independent of human intervention that has evolved in the natural world on its own.

 

[thebart]

My guesses:

1) Siri will now pass off some general queries to OpenAI, stuff that aren't about your phone or you specifically. (Just don't ask "controversial questions" like who won the election.)

2) They will have small on device models that can do things like live transcription (maybe older iPhones will use cloud compute or be left out).

3) They will demo (maybe only conceptual mockups) a new framework to allow Siri to control app operations. Every app that wants to be used via Siri will advertise its functions and how to perform them. Then when you say something like upscale this photo 2x with gigapixel and email it to Peter Johns with subject ___ and message ____. Use my Gmail account. It'll understand what you mean thanks to open AI and knows how to carry out the steps thanks to the framework

Eventually it may be smart enough to watch you do things and learn how apps work so it doesn't even need cooperation from the app.

 

[cardfan]

All that crap but still no built in recording for calls? Or have I missed that?

I’d even take transcripts

 

[gwhizkids]

As a programmer, I’m well aware of what’s going on. And I’m telling you, I can write a simple page of code that does exactly what you’re describing. It’s not learning, it’s not intelligence. It’s human-initiated behavior performing as instructed - no more, no less. Just because humans can’t predict the results doesn’t mean a machine is “intelligent” or actually “learning” because it doesn’t have a brain independent of human intervention that has evolved in the natural world on its own.

I don’t disagree with your general sentiment: AI is simply computer code executing commands it is given, even if it does so in a manner that mimics learning. It is not a panacea and (fortunately!) is not sentient.

I do, however, think you are grossly oversimplifying what this software will be doing and I don’t think you or anyone else is going to replicate that with a page of code, simple or complex. Were that possible, it would have been done long ago. And I can tell you from having been around code since the BASIC and FORTRAN days, that the level of computing being done by these AI routines is an order of magnitude (or more) greater than those languages ever are or could be.

 

[hajime]

Could Apple have been preserving SJ's brain to power Apple Intelligence?

 

[ChromeAce]

I don’t disagree with your general sentiment: AI is simply computer code executing commands it is given, even if it does so in a manner that mimics learning. It is not a panacea and (fortunately!) is not sentient.

I do, however, think you are grossly oversimplifying what this software will be doing and I don’t think you or anyone else is going to replicate that with a page of code, simple or complex. Were that possible, it would have been done long ago. And I can tell you from having been around code since the BASIC and FORTRAN days, that the level of computing being done by these AI routines is an order of magnitude (or more) greater than those languages ever are or could be.

You’re confusing complexity with magic.

 

[nathansz]

I do, however, think you are grossly oversimplifying what this software will be doing and I don’t think you or anyone else is going to replicate that with a page of code, simple or complex.

It is code.

 

[Tagbert]

It is code.

But not static code. the models evolve and determine how the code operates.

 

[gwhizkids]

But not static code. the models evolve and determine how the code operates.

And it’s not “a simple page of code” either.

 

[Velli]

Hmmm...I don't see any official announcements from Apple.

It may be that it disappoints many, but don't condemn an unannounced product until its actually announced.

I’m not condemning anything, I’m asking an honest question. I have not been keeping track of what Android and Windows can actually do with AI, and haven’t tried it. I’m trying to learn what to expect from the actual announcements. IF these were the announcements, would they be on par with competition? Do you know?

 

[dburkhanaev]

I certainly like hearing that it's opt-in.

I hope so. I’m hoping this is the same for MacOS as well. And hopefully that also means for the system integrated, generative machine learning features.

I can write my own email, thank you.

 

[dburkhanaev]

Good thing the minority doesn’t speak for the overall users

It’s even better if it has a means to toggle on and off. You know- like a settings menu. Because most people won’t use most of this stuff and I don’t want the aggravation. And since I’m paying an arm and a fortune for Apple to keep its doors open. I’d like to see some choices under the hood.