Amid the AI frenzy, Google introduced its leading Pixel 8 series, showcasing its advanced AI capabilities. Following suit, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S24 lineup, integrating Galaxy AI with its own set of innovative AI functionalities.
It wouldn’t come as a shock if Apple follows a similar path with the rumored iPhone 16 (unofficial title). While Apple already incorporates AI features in its iPhones, notably in functions like photo duplication detection and photo enhancement, the tech giant may be lagging behind its competitors in generative AI, at least in the eyes of the public.
However, Apple could bridge this gap with the upcoming major software update, iOS 18. In the November release of Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, he hinted at iOS 18 potentially introducing “groundbreaking” updates to the iPhone, including significant new features and designs.
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Although details on iOS 18 are scarce at the moment, Apple typically offers a glimpse of its major software upgrades for the iPhone and other devices at WWDC, its annual software development conference held in June.
In the current iOS 17 iteration, Apple unveiled several AI-driven features such as voice cloning and an enhanced keyboard with improved autocorrect. Yet, the company refrained from releasing generative AI products akin to Google’s Bard or Open AI’s Chat GPT. Speculation, however, suggests substantial changes may be on the horizon with iOS 18 next year. Here’s what to anticipate.
Google recently launched a dedicated website advocating for Apple to adopt the RCS text messaging standard, featuring links to tweet notes to the company.
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Enhanced Siri Intelligence
Despite Siri’s presence since iOS 5 in 2011, Apple’s voice assistant could undergo significant improvements with iOS 18. Generative AI advancements could enhance Siri and the Messages app’s ability to handle inquiries and auto-complete sentences, as per Gurman.
A report from The Information in September hinted at Apple’s plans to leverage large language models, a key component of generative AI, to enhance Siri’s capabilities. For instance, Siri might be able to execute complex tasks in response to simple voice commands, like converting a series of photos into a GIF and sending them to a contact. If this example holds true, it signifies a notable leap in Siri’s functionality.
Enhanced Cross-Platform Messaging with Android
Apple has confirmed its intention to introduce RCS support, the universal messaging standard, to the iPhone. As per a November report by 9to5Mac, an Apple representative mentioned that RCS support is slated to arrive on the iPhone “later next year” and will operate alongside iMessage.
The integration of RCS should elevate the messaging experience between iPhone and Android users by offering iMessage-like features. These enhancements encompass sharing high-quality photos and videos, read receipts, typing indicators, and crucially, end-to-end encryption, a feature lacking in SMS messaging. In essence, if you own an Android device and communicate with an iPhone user, you can now exchange messages via RCS instead of SMS. Nonetheless, iMessage will remain exclusive to Apple devices, with RCS not extending iMessage functionality to Android phones.
While specifics regarding Apple’s plans for iOS 18 are currently limited, including the compatibility of different iPhone models, stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, familiarize yourself with Apple’s latest publicly accessible mobile software, iOS 17, using our cheat sheet.
