The update to the iOS 18 operating system will be available on Monday, following the release of four iPhone 16 models equipped with a specialized chip necessary for the AI functionalities, which were made available for purchase at prices between $800 and $1,200 over a month ago.
Additionally, last year's premium models, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, also feature a processor capable of supporting the AI enhancements once the software update is applied.
Users of recent Apple iPad and Mac models will also have the opportunity to update their devices with this software.
However, customers outside the United States will have to wait until next year for the AI software on their iPhones, with the exact date yet to be announced. Over the past five weeks, Apple has been testing the AI software with a group of iPhone users who volunteered to assist in refining the technology.
The introduction of AI is expected to enhance Apple's virtual assistant, Siri, transforming it into a more engaging, adaptable, and dynamic assistant, indicated by a glowing light that will encircle the iPhone's screen while processing requests.
While Apple assures that Siri will be capable of handling a broader range of tasks with improved clarity, it will not yet be able to interact with other applications on the iPhone until a future software update is released at an undetermined time.
Additional AI capabilities included in this software update will facilitate various writing and proofreading tasks, summarize emails and documents, and offer editing tools to modify photo appearances and simplify the search for older images.
Future software updates will introduce additional AI capabilities, such as the ability to generate personalized emojis instantly and create imaginative visuals upon request. Apple also intends to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its AI suite to assist users when needed.
Many of the AI functionalities unveiled by Apple are already present on Android devices released by Samsung and Google earlier this year.
To set itself apart from the early AI pioneers, Apple is branding its new technology as “Apple Intelligence.” The company assures users that its AI features will prioritize privacy, either by processing data directly on the device or within secure data centers for remote requests.
Due to the lack of necessary computer chips in most existing iPhones worldwide, there is anticipated high demand for the new models during the holiday season and into the following year. This expectation has contributed to an 18% increase in Apple’s stock price since the company revealed its AI strategy at a conference in early June, boosting its market value by approximately $500 billion and bringing it closer to the milestone of being the first U.S. company valued at $4 trillion.
Investors will receive their first insights into the performance of the iPhone 16 on Thursday when Apple releases its quarterly financial results for the July-September period, which includes the initial days of sales for the new models.
According to a recent analysis by International Data Corp, demand for the premium iPhone 15 models has increased as their prices decreased and excitement around Apple’s entry into the AI sector grew.
Apple's iPhone shipments increased by 3.5 percent year-over-year, reaching 56 million units globally during the July-September timeframe, making it the second-largest vendor after Samsung, as reported by IDC. A key consideration now is whether Apple's incremental introduction of more AI features will incentivize owners of older iPhone models to invest in the latest versions during the holiday season, thereby "future-proofing their purchases," according to IDC analyst Nabila Popal.
Additionally, on Monday, Apple announced that a recent software update allows certain AirPods wireless headphones to function as hearing aids.
Approximately 30 million individuals, or 1 in 8 Americans aged 12 and older, experience hearing loss in both ears. While millions could benefit from hearing aids, many have never utilized them, as noted by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.