The hardware hurdle for Apple Intelligence

Photo: Apple

Apple introduced its AI experience called Apple Intelligence with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. This feature utilizes on-device, generative large-language models to personalize and enhance your experience across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. But there's a hardware requirement to access it.

While everyone can enjoy iOS 18, Apple Intelligence requires the latest iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models, alongside Macs and iPads with M1 chips or later. This has sparked curiosity about the hardware limitations.

At WWDC 2024, Apple executives addressed these concerns. John Giannandrea, head of AI/machine learning, explained that running large language models requires significant processing power. He discussed that the size and speed of the Apple Neural Engine, along with overall device bandwidth, are crucial for real-time functionality.

Apple assures users that the hardware requirement isn't a sales tactic. Greg Joswiak, marketing chief, highlighted that including recent iPads and Macs would've been a simpler strategy if that were the case.

Craig Federighi, software engineering chief, emphasized Apple's commitment to backwards compatibility. However, he acknowledged the exceptional processing power required by Apple Intelligence.

The iPhone 15 Pro models boast the A17 Pro chip with a 16-core Neural Engine, twice as fast as the A16 chip in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. This powerhouse performs nearly 35 trillion operations per second alongside ample RAM (likely 8GB or more based on compatible devices)—both crucial for Apple Intelligence's smooth operation.

For those eager to experience Apple Intelligence on the go, the upcoming iPhone 16 series (expected alongside iOS 18's fall release) might be the answer.

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