Apple's generative AI features may debut with iOS 18: What to expect

wwdc ios 18

Apple’s next iOS 18 OS update will reportedly bring a host of AI features on iPhones and iPads, backed by a large language model. According to a new report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the first artificial intelligence features that Apple is likely to introduce in iOS 18 may not be based on the company’s cloud servers but instead will work entirely on Apple’s devices.

Gurman stated in the report “As the world awaits Apple’s big AI unveiling on June 10, it looks like the initial wave of features will work entirely on the device. That means there’s no cloud processing component to the company’s large language model, the software that powers the new capabilities”.

He also mentioned that Apple could use some cloud computing AI features, like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and China’s Ernie Bot (from Baidu) to enhance its AI-based OS features. The Cupertino-based tech giant is reportedly in talks with these companies to integrate artificial intelligence features in iOS 18.

iOS 18 might have new generative AI features for Siri, Safari, iPhone Shortcuts, Apple Music, Messages, Health, Numbers, Pages, and Keynote, among others. Previously, Gurman has also mentioned that generative AI has the potential to improve Siri’s ability to answer any type of question. We could see AI auto-write or translate messages on iMessage. Furthermore, Apple is also expected to lay a lot of emphasis on AI helping developers with coding.

We can expect to learn more about iOS 18 and its features at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) scheduled from June 10 to June 14. Apple will announce all the major updates coming to iOS, iPadOS, macOS and watchOS.