Apple's AI Technology: Why It's Not Ready to Impress You Just Yet
Apple Intelligence Isn’t Ready to Wow You—Yet
Source: WIRED
Introduction
Apple's highly anticipated artificial intelligence features are debuting with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, yet initial experiences suggest that they may not meet expectations.
Current Features and Limitations
New Features Overview
- Writing Tools: Allows users to rewrite, proofread, and summarize text on the device, albeit hidden within highlighting options.
- Typing to Siri: Now a default feature, though it feels similar to past experiences despite a new design.
- Smart Replies: Offers AI-generated responses in Messages and Mail, yet lacks novelty as similar features have existed in other applications since 2017.
- Summarization Tools: Provides overviews of web pages and notifications, but often produces unclear outputs.
Photo and Transcription Features
- Clean Up: Allows users to erase objects from photos, a feature previously available in competitor products.
- Real-time Transcriptions: Available in Notes, Voice Memos, and Phone, proving useful for journalists and casual users alike.
- Improved Search in Photos: Offers contextually aware searches for finding images more easily.
Future Enhancements
Awaiting iOS 18.2
Significant features promising an improved experience are set for release in iOS 18.2:
- Contextual Siri: Will understand device screen content and personal context, enhancing interaction.
- Image Playground: Generate images from text inputs.
- Genmoji: Create custom emojis based on user prompts.
- Visual Intelligence: Identifies real-world objects using camera input.
Conclusion
While Apple Intelligence has introduced several useful tools, the rollout's piecemeal approach may leave users underwhelmed. The next update, iOS 18.2, is crucial for elevating Siri’s capabilities and delivering groundbreaking features that could reshape user experiences.
