Apple is expected to make a major leap in artificial intelligence (AI) with its upcoming iOS 18 update, according to analysts. The tech giant has been hinting at its AI ambitions for a while, through startup acquisitions, job postings, and patent filings.
Now, rumors suggest that iOS 18 will feature a revamped Siri that will use AI chatbot technology and run on-device, without relying on cloud servers.
Analysts predict that Apple will showcase its AI innovations at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024, and integrate the ChatGPT technology that it acquired from OpenAI last year. This could give Siri a significant edge over its competitors, and make iOS 18 the most advanced mobile operating system in the market.
Appleās Previous Hints at AI
Apple has been quietly building its AI capabilities for years, acquiring several startups that specialize in various aspects of AI, such as natural language processing, computer vision, machine learning, and speech recognition. Some of the notable acquisitions include VocalIQ, Perceptio, Turi, Lattice Data, and Xnor.ai. These startups have helped Apple improve its existing AI products, such as Siri, Face ID, and Photos, as well as develop new ones, such as HomePod and AirPods.
Apple has also been hiring AI experts from academia and industry, expanding its research and development teams across the world. According to a report by GlobalData, Apple had the most AI-related job openings among the top tech companies in 2023, with 1,245 vacancies. The report also noted that Appleās AI job postings focused on areas such as natural language understanding, conversational AI, machine learning, and deep learning.
Rumors of AI-Powered Siri in iOS 18
One of the most anticipated features of iOS 18 is the new and improved Siri, which is rumored to use AI chatbot technology to provide more natural and engaging conversations with users. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is working on a project codenamed āYukonā that aims to transform Siri from a voice assistant to a full-fledged chatbot that can handle complex queries and tasks, such as booking flights, ordering food, and making reservations. The report also claimed that Apple is testing a new interface for Siri that will allow users to type or speak their requests, and see the responses in a chat-like format.
Another rumor that has been circulating in the tech community is that iOS 18 will enable Siri to run on device, without requiring an internet connection or sending data to cloud servers. This would enhance the privacy and security of users, as well as the speed and reliability of Siri. Moreover, this would allow Siri to access more data from the device, such as contacts, calendars, messages, and photos, and provide more personalized and contextual responses. This rumor is supported by Appleās acquisition of Xnor.ai, a startup that specializes in on-device AI, in 2020.
Analysts Predictions for iOS 18
Analysts expect that Apple will unveil its AI breakthroughs at the WWDC 2024, which is scheduled to take place in June. The main highlight of the event will be the iOS 18 update, which will showcase the new Siri and its capabilities. Analysts believe that Apple will leverage the ChatGPT technology that it acquired from OpenAI, a leading AI research organization, in 2023. ChatGPT is a state-of-the-art neural network that can generate realistic and coherent text based on a given input. It can also learn from its interactions with users, and adapt to their preferences and styles. Analysts think that Apple will integrate ChatGPT with Siri, and create a powerful and versatile AI chatbot that can handle any type of conversation.
Analysts also predict that iOS 18 will enhance Siriās capabilities in other domains, such as music, health, and smart home. For instance, Siri could recommend songs based on the userās mood, activity, and location, or provide health tips and reminders based on the userās biometric data and habits. Siri could also control and coordinate multiple smart devices in the userās home, such as lights, thermostats, cameras, and locks, and create customized scenes and routines.
Analysts estimate that iOS 18 will be released in September 2024, along with the new iPhone models. They expect that the new Siri will be a game-changer for Apple, and will attract more users and developers to its ecosystem. They also foresee that the new Siri will pose a serious challenge to other voice assistants, such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung Bixby, and will set a new standard for AI in mobile devices.
