Apple could require users to opt-in before accessing the new artificial intelligence (AI) features coming to the iPhone this fall with iOS 18.
Apple’s approach to generative AI is thought to differ from its technology peers, including having to opt-in to use those features.
That way, people who are wary of AI technology will have those features disabled by default when they install iOS 18. At the same time, early adopters and those who prefer to live on the bleeding edge of technology can opt-in to use the features.
iOS 18’s AI may be an opt-in service
In 2008, OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman was onstage at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference to promote Loopt, his friend-locating service that was one of the launch apps in the App Store, which arrived that fall.
“Now, 16 years later, Apple is calling upon the entrepreneur again—but with a twist,” writes Mark Gurman over at Bloomberg. “This time, the company needs his help as much as he needs Apple.” Apple is thought to have licensed OpenAI’s technology as a fallback mechanism for complex AI features that couldn’t run on-device.
The partnership to incorporate ChatGPT technology into iPhones, iPads and Macs will be allegedly announced at next week’s WWDC24 keynote. Bloomberg says some Apple execs are concerned with bad press stemming from a “rogue chatbot.”
Apple playing it safe with AI
Thankfully, a middle ground was eventually reached. According to the report, Apple would use third-party technology for the chatbot function instead of its own, and people who want to use it would be required to opt in.
Dag Kittlaus, who co-founded Siri before Apple acquired it, thinks the OpenAI deal is an interim step, a “short- to medium-term relationship” until Apple’s own chatbot is up to snuff. “But you can bet that they will be working hard building out their own competencies here,” he was quoted in the piece.
Apple LLMs may power future robotic devices
Apple may use its own large language model, Ajax, to power simpler AI features like contextual replies in Messages, image edits via voice prompts, and more.
The report mentioned that Apple’s leadership is looking to tap an Ajax LLM for other projects, including a home robot and a tabletop robotic arm with a built-in display.