Apple iOS 18 AI Features Might Not Use Cloud Servers

As Google and Samsung continue to enhance their flagship smartphones with AI features, Apple is gearing up to join the race with the upcoming release of iOS 18. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s AI features will initially operate solely on the user’s device, without relying on cloud-based processing.

Gurman explained, “As the world awaits Apple’s big AI unveiling on June 10, it looks like the initial wave of features will work entirely on-device. That means there’s no cloud processing component to the company’s large language model, the software that powers the new capabilities.”

Apple iOS 18 AI Features Might Not Use Cloud Servers

Apple’s decision to prioritize local processing for AI features brings both advantages and potential limitations. On the positive side, users can anticipate faster responses and improved privacy since their data remains on their devices. However, this approach may limit access to the powerful cloud-based resources often required for advanced AI functionalities.

To provide some context, Samsung’s Galaxy AI also offers offline capabilities like Interpreter and typing suggestions. Similarly, Google has developed the Gemini Nano AI model for on-device execution.

Nevertheless, even the most advanced smartphone hardware struggles to handle cutting-edge large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT without additional cloud support. Consequently, some of Samsung’s and Google’s most sophisticated AI features still rely on the computational power of cloud servers.

Gurman suggests that Apple could address this by incorporating cloud-based features, possibly powered by Google Gemini or a similar provider. Samsung’s Galaxy AI allows users to choose between cloud-based and on-device models for certain features. While the latter may offer lower-quality results or limited functionality, it provides a privacy-focused alternative.

Apple’s emphasis on on-device AI processing strongly indicates the company’s commitment to reinforcing its reputation for protecting user privacy.

iOS 18 is expected to introduce a range of generative AI enhancements across Apple’s suite of apps. Rumours suggest improvements in Spotlight search, Siri’s ability to handle complex questions, and powerful image editing tools in the native Photos app.

Apple will unveil iOS 18 and its AI capabilities at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), scheduled to take place from June 10 to June 14.

See Also: iOS 18: VisionOS-Style Redesign – What To Expect