Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is on June 10, and there are expectations for the release of iOS 18, the next version of the iPhone software. CEO Tim Cook has hinted at major announcements regarding generative AI, similar to Google’s Pixel 8 and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series. While Apple already has AI features on its iPhones, it has yet to fully incorporate generative AI like Google’s Gemini or OpenAI’s Chat GPT. However, with iOS 18, there are rumors of significant changes that could bring new AI features to the iPhone.
One anticipated feature in iOS 18 is the integration of the Calendar app with the Reminders app, allowing users to schedule and organize reminders directly from the Calendar without launching a separate app. Additionally, Siri is expected to get smarter with the use of generative AI technology. This could enhance Siri’s capabilities to field questions and auto-complete sentences, making the voice assistant more intuitive and responsive. The potential integration of large language models into Siri could significantly improve its performance and functionalities.
Apple is also planning to introduce support for RCS, a cross-platform messaging standard, on the iPhone. This will enable iPhone users to have a more enhanced messaging experience when communicating with Android users, with features such as high-quality photo and video sharing, read receipts, typing indicators, and end-to-end encryption. While RCS will improve inter-device messaging, iMessage will remain exclusive to Apple devices, ensuring the platform’s uniqueness.
The upcoming iOS 18 is poised to bring on-device AI features anchored by Apple’s own LLM, promising better privacy and faster response times as data doesn’t need to be transmitted to the cloud. However, Apple’s AI tools may face limitations in scenarios where a depth of knowledge is required, potentially necessitating partnerships with AI service providers like Google. While details on iOS 18 are still scarce, updates are expected as more information becomes available. The combination of generative AI enhancements, improved Siri capabilities, and RCS support could make iOS 18 one of the biggest software updates in the history of the iPhone.
