All signs indicate that future Apple devices will heavily leverage generative AI starting in the second half of this year. Evidence suggests that Apple plans to unveil its first AI applications later this year, which will run locally without requiring an internet connection. This aligns with the company’s hiring records and the trend among tech giants to produce devices with powerful neural processing units (NPUs) for handling AI tasks. Apple’s recent acquisition of Paris AI firm Datakalab, which specializes in image analysis and algorithm compression, further hints at its plans.
The upcoming iPhone 16 and Macs featuring the M4 processor are likely to showcase Apple’s AI advancements. The iPhone 16’s A18 processor could introduce Apple’s first major NPU upgrade in years, shifting from 16 to 32 cores, potentially exceeding the performance of current industry leaders. The M4 processor lineup is also speculated to focus on local AI processing, matching the ‘next-generation AI PC’ standard defined by Microsoft and Intel.
Apple’s embrace of on-device AI aligns with its privacy-focused marketing message and industry trends towards decentralizing AI processing. While the specific details of Apple’s AI applications and partnerships with Google or OpenAI remain uncertain, the company’s recent moves indicate a dramatic pivot towards the technology in the coming months.
