Apple Unveils AI-Powered Siri Update for Latest iPhones
Apple Inc. has announced a significant software update that will integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into Siri, aiming to automate various tasks on the company’s latest iPhone models. The update is currently available for testing to users who signed up before the public release scheduled for next month.
Initially, the AI features will be compatible with two premium iPhone models from last year. Additionally, four new iPhone 16 models, set to release this Friday, will fully support these AI capabilities. The prices for the new iPhone 16 lineup range from $800 to $1,200.
In a move to differentiate itself from competitors, Apple has branded its AI technology as “Apple Intelligence.” The company is positioning these AI features as a key selling point for the new iPhone 16 models, with the test version release aimed at encouraging early purchases.
The initial rollout of Apple Intelligence will be in U.S. English, with plans to expand to other English-speaking regions in December. Further expansion to additional languages and countries is slated for next year.
The iOS 18.1 upgrade will significantly enhance Siri’s capabilities, making it more conversational and versatile. Visual improvements include a glowing light rotating around the screen during interactions. Apple promises that Siri will perform more tasks with reduced confusion, and future updates will enable interaction with other apps.
Beyond Siri, Apple Intelligence will offer a range of AI capabilities, including writing and proofreading tasks, summarizing emails and documents, and enhanced photo editing tools. Future updates are expected to introduce features such as creating customized emojis and integrating with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
While the AI features will be fully supported on the new iPhone 16 models, they will also work on last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. These models will additionally support spatial video recording for the Vision Pro headset. However, older iPhone models will not have access to these new AI capabilities.
Industry analysts anticipate that these AI enhancements will boost Apple’s sales and potentially push the company’s market value above $4 trillion within the next year. As the tech giant continues to innovate in the AI space, the impact on the smartphone market and Apple’s position within it will be closely watched by investors and consumers alike.