Apple forced to explain why it won't add AI features to older iPhones...
Apple fans expressed disappointment upon learning that the company's latest AI capabilities would not be compatible with various iPhone models, including newer ones. Apple cited technical constraints as the primary reason for this decision.
Technical Justification for Exclusion
During a live interview on The Talk Show podcast, AI executive John Giannandrea defended Apple's choice to reserve its newly unveiled AI-driven features exclusively for upcoming iPhone releases and high-end models from the recent generation. Giannandrea clarified that the AI software necessitated more robust hardware for optimal performance. While acknowledging the theoretical feasibility of running the AI models on older devices, he asserted that such devices would operate at suboptimal speeds, rendering the features impractical for users.
Enhancements and Limitations
Apple recently unveiled an array of "Apple Intelligence" features for iPhone users, including email editing assistance, customized emojis, and an enhanced Siri empowered by ChatGPT. However, the rollout of these features is restricted to future iPhone iterations and premium models introduced in the previous year. In contrast, Mac computers equipped with Apple's M-series chips, which replaced Intel processors in 2020, are compatible with the AI features. According to software head Craig Federighi, the RAM memory capacity also influences the functionality of these features on devices.
Privacy-Focused Approach
Positioning itself as a privacy-conscious entity, Apple emphasizes processing data on-device for enhanced security. However, this approach elevates the performance demands on the devices. To address this, Apple has devised a method to encrypt and transmit tasks to its servers, ensuring data confidentiality. Giannandrea emphasized that user data is not utilized for training AI models.
Upcoming Enhancements
The AI features are slated for release in updates like iOS 18 in the latter half of 2024, offering functionalities such as generating images from text inputs. Apple's AI strategy diverges from many competitors as it refrains from generating artificial photos to mitigate the risks associated with deepfakes.
Source: dpa
