Apple delays launch of new artificial intelligence features

Apple has postponed the rollout of its new artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, which will now be introduced after the initial release of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, expected in September, Bloomberg reports.

Sources familiar with the matter told the publication that the tech giant plans to make these AI features available to developers for early testing through iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 betas as early as the last week in July 2024.

The decision to delay the AI features, which were expected to be part of the new operating systems announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, is to allow more time for bug fixes.

This approach is unusual for Apple, which typically does not preview follow-up updates before the public release of the new software generation.

The delay is partly due to concerns over the stability of the new Apple Intelligence features.

Apple aims to ensure a smooth consumer release and requires developer support to address potential issues.

The fourth beta of iOS 18.0 was released to developers last week, with the goal of completing development by the end of July.

This timing is critical as new iPhones, typically launched in September, come with the latest software pre-installed.

The AI features, known as Apple Intelligence, encompass a variety of enhancements, including improved notification prioritisation, summarisation tools for web pages and voice notes, writing aids, an updated Siri, and integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

However, even after the release of iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, some Siri updates will be absent, with the full set of features expected to be rolled out in multiple updates through the end of 2024 and into the first half of 2025.

Apple Intelligence will also extend to Mac computers with Apple chips as part of macOS Sequoia and is in development for the Vision Pro, although its release is scheduled for later.

In the fast-evolving generative AI space, Apple’s investment in Apple Intelligence is a strategic move to stay competitive.

The company is limiting support to last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and the forthcoming iPhone 16 line, hoping the new features will boost sales, especially since the iPhone 16 models will have minimal design changes.

“Apple delays launch of new artificial intelligence features ” was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.

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