Following months of speculation, Apple on Monday unveiled its much-anticipated AI strategy and a suite of AI-powered features and software enhancements for the iPhone and its other devices at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024.
A Focus on Artificial Intelligence
WWDC 2024 prominently showcased Apple’s commitment to artificial intelligence with the introduction of a new suite of features branded as Apple Intelligence. This suite aims to demonstrate to investors and consumers that Apple is advancing in the AI arena, keeping pace with tech giants like Microsoft and Alphabet, who have recently integrated advanced AI technologies into their offerings.
Here’s a quick rundown of some key announcements:
Key Announcements
Software Updates
iOS 18:
- Customization: Users can now arrange apps and widgets freely on the home screen and customize the lock screen and control center, which now includes enhanced media playback controls.
- Security: Apps can be locked with Face ID, providing an extra layer of security and privacy.
iPadOS 18:
- Features from iOS 18: Includes all customization and security features of iOS 18.
- New Additions: A dedicated calculator app and a floating toolbar for improved multitasking across built-in apps.
- Math Notes: A calculator app allowing users to type or write mathematical expressions and see them solved in real time.
- Smart Script: Enhances legibility of handwritten notes.
macOS Sequoia (macOS 15):
- iPhone Mirroring: View and interact with the iPhone’s screen on Mac computers.
- Continuity Features: Enhanced interaction between iPhone and Mac for a seamless user experience.
- Safari: Upgraded with page summaries for quicker browsing.
watchOS 11:
- Health and Workout: New health metrics and a training mode that details the impact of workouts on the user’s body.
- Vitals App: Displays important health metrics at a glance.
VisionOS 2:
- Enhanced Controls: Improved gesture controls and spatial photos for a more immersive experience.
AI Functionality
Apple’s new “Apple Intelligence” suite brings generative AI-powered features across iPhones, Macs, and iPads. Key features include:
- Siri: Now capable of retrieving information from messages, emails, calendars, photos, and third-party apps to answer a broader range of queries and perform tasks. Users can also interact with Siri via text.
- ChatGPT Integration: Enhances the system’s ability to understand images and documents, and helps users compose and edit text messages.
- Private Cloud Compute: Most AI processes will run on the device, while complex tasks will be handled by Apple’s servers using its own server chips to power AI features across devices.
Apple Intelligence Features
Coming later this year, initially available on iPhone 15 Pro models and Macs/iPads with M series chips, Apple Intelligence includes:
- AI-assisted writing tools
- Smarter image editing with AI suggestions
- Improved organization features powered by AI
Application Updates
- Messages: Can now be sent via satellite when cellular and Wi-Fi connections are unavailable.
- Mail App: Automatically sorts emails into personal, marketing, and transactional categories.
- Safari: The new Highlight feature surfaces key information about webpages, like restaurant locations or artist tracks.
- Notes and Phone Apps: Users can record, transcribe, and summarize audio.
- Image Playground: A new image-generation tool.
- Photos App: Improved search and a new ability to find specific moments in video clips.
Other Announcements
- Privacy: Enhanced with features like app locking and hidden app folders.
- Rotate Wi-Fi Address: A new option to minimize tracking across different networks.
- Passwords App: Coming to all Apple devices, including Windows.
At WWDC24, Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system; exciting new features coming to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18; and visionOS 2, which brings powerful new ways to interact with Apple Vision Pro.
For a more detailed breakdown, you can check out online recaps of the WWDC 2024 keynote. Here’s another recap from influential YouTube gadget reviewer Marques Brownlee.
