Apple Unveils Apple Intelligence: A Suite of AI Features Coming to iPhones and Macs

Apple announced a major shift towards artificial intelligence at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024. The company unveiled “Apple Intelligence,” a comprehensive suite of AI features designed to enhance the user experience on iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

So, what’s new?

Siri Gets Smarter and More Conversational

One of the most anticipated features is a revamped Siri. Apple promises a more conversational Siri that can understand context and carry out actions across different apps. This includes managing notifications, automatically writing text, and summarizing information within emails and other apps. Users will also be able to adjust the tone of their writing with simple prompts.

Furthermore, Siri will gain “onscreen awareness.” This means it can understand what you’re looking at on your device and potentially take actions related to the content. For example, you could ask Siri to play a podcast your partner just sent you in the Messages app. Notably, these features will work with both Apple and third-party apps.

For users who prefer text communication, Apple is finally introducing the ability to type to Siri, eliminating the need for voice interaction entirely.

Privacy at the Forefront of Apple Intelligence

Apple has always emphasized user privacy, and that focus continues with Apple Intelligence. The company assures users that many AI features will run directly on the device, minimizing the need to send data to the cloud. However, for more complex requests, Apple’s “Private Cloud Compute” comes into play.

Private Cloud Compute utilizes servers powered by Apple Silicon chips to process these requests. Apple assures users that their data will never be stored or accessed on these servers. Additionally, the company plans to allow independent experts to inspect the code running on these servers to further verify privacy practices.

New Features: Genmoji, Image Playground, and Enhanced Photos

Apple Intelligence introduces several innovative features that leverage AI. “Genmoji” generates custom emoji on the fly, perfect for expressing emotions beyond the standard emoji library. Similarly, “Image Playground” lets users create new images within a dedicated app or integrate it with other apps via an API.

The Photos app also receives an AI upgrade. Existing object recognition capabilities will be enhanced, allowing users to search for specific actions within photos, like someone doing a cartwheel. Apple is also adding features similar to Google’s Magic Eraser, allowing users to remove unwanted objects from photos.