[imagesource:flickr]

Siri could be getting a glow-up soon.

Apple is widely expected to unveil new AI features for the iPhone this year at its Worldwide Developers Conference on 10 June, which could be added to everything from Siri search to the Messages app.

The new functions are expected to be part of Apple’s new iOS 18 and are likely to be ‘on device’ (i.e. they’ll work without an internet connection), according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. This means that Apple’s Large Language Model (similar to ChatGPT) won’t use cloud-based processing.

Apple has needed to catch up to competitors such as Google and Samsung lately, which have both added extra AI-powered features to their flagship smartphones this year. Still, investors are closely watching for updates on artificial intelligence development at Apple, per Yahoo! News.

Rumours suggest that Apple will add AI features to Siri, Safari, Apple Music, Messages, Pages and Keynote, as well as to its Spotlight search function.

This AI would allow Siri to answer more complex queries, and auto-complete messages in the Messages app, according to Gurman’s suggestions.

The use of ‘local AI’ is also important because by keeping its own tools on-device, Apple will safeguard user privacy. Plus, Apple has historically kept many functions on the iPhone.

Doing local AI means user data never leaves the device and is safer and more private – as well as being less vulnerable to weak internet connections.

However, Gurman’s report suggests that other AI tools on the device will be provided by another generative AI provider (possibly Google) and that these will be cloud-based.

Phones such as Google’s Pixel 8 and Samsung’s S24 have majored in AI features this year – and the features tend to be broadly similar – each offering AI-generated wallpaper, AI note-taking and summaries, and AI picture-improving functions for photos.

But come June 10-14 this year, iOS 18 is expected to be unveiled at the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) and could be packing some much-needed ‘local AI’.

As always when it comes to Apple in this country, Digicape SA is at the forefront with the biggest selection of Apple products, as well as being South Africa’s inaugural member of the Apple Consultant Network.

Digicape allows you to trade in your old smartphones, tablets, watches, Apple TVs, laptops, and desktop computers for discounts and vouchers – which means you can get the latest iPhone for a little less than the selling price depending on what you trade-in.

Head over to Digicape to find out more.

[source:yahoo]