iOS 18 is en route and is rumored to feature privacy-focused AI with processing done directly on the iPhone without connecting to cloud-based services.
Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in the Sunday edition of his PowerOn newsletter, the AI-related functions in iOS 18 “will work entirely on device.” In practice, these AI features would be able to function without an internet connection or any form of cloud-based processing.
A number of anonymous sources familiar with the matter have confirmed that Gurman’s claims are accurate. Apple is currently working on an in-house large language model, or LLM, known internally as “Ajax.”
While more advanced features will ultimately require an internet connection, basic text analysis, and response generation features should be available offline.
It’s also thought that there will be AI-based improvements in apps such as Messages, Safari, Spotlight Search, and Siri. Apple has been testing on-device text-based response generation for a while, meaning this feature will most likely be among those first previewed or released.
The more advanced AI features will still require an internet connection, and Apple has reportedly discussed licensing Google and OpenAI’s AI technology for use in iOS 18 rather than developing its own online LLM.
On-device processes could help eliminate certain controversies found with server-side AI tools. For example, these tools have been known to hallucinate, meaning they make up information confidently.
The hallucination issue has only gotten worse, as AI models feed on content generated by other AI models.
Apple will reveal its AI plans during WWDC, which begins on June 10.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and Bloomberg