Why Apple Intelligence is Unavailable on Older Devices: Explanation from Apple Executives

Tech & AI | June 20, 2024, 9:04 a.m.

Apple's iOS 18 update brought a wave of visual changes to iPhones, with Apple Intelligence as a highlight feature. This on-device generative AI is exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro models, iPads, and Macs with Apple Silicon due to the raw power needed for its operation. The A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro is key in handling these tasks efficiently. In a recent talk, Apple executives shed light on why Apple Intelligence is limited to these devices. John Giannandrea explained the computational expense of running large language models on older devices, emphasizing the need for speed and power. Greg Joswiak denied any scheme to boost iPhone sales, stating that only the latest devices can handle the intensity of Apple Intelligence. Craig Federighi emphasized the sheer capability of running such powerful models on an iPhone, highlighting the A17 Pro chip's 16-core Neural Engine as a game-changer in the field.