- Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024.
- An iPhone 15 Pro or newer is required for compatibility with the new AI features.
- iPhone sales have faced headwinds, so the company is hoping it can convince people to upgrade.
Apple finally threw its hat into the AI ring during its WWDC keynote on Monday, revealing a suite of generative AI features it calls Apple Intelligence.
But most iPhone users will need to upgrade in order to use them.
The Apple Intelligence features for iPhones, iPads, and Macs will be free for users and are set to roll out to US users later this year. There's also a revamped Siri, powered by Apple Intelligence, that promises to be more useful by accessing specific actions within apps.
The AI tasks — which include helping draft emails, generating custom images and emojis, and figuring out when you should leave the house to catch your flight — will be mostly handled on the Apple devices themselves, powered by the chips within iPhones, iPads, and Macs. That means you'll need one of the latest iPhones or a fairly modern iPad or Mac to access Apple Intelligence.
An entry-level iPhone 15 isn't even enough. You'll need at least the iPhone 15 Pro or an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple Intelligence is also compatible only with iPads and Macs that have the M1 chip — thankfully, those have been around for years.
You'll also be able to let Apple Intelligence and the new Siri tap into ChatGPT for some tasks. The integration is designed to make accessing ChatGPT seamless, but those with older iPhones can always download the ChatGPT iOS app.
Apple Intelligence's launch comes after declines in iPhone sales, which dropped by 10% year over year in the first quarter. Data also suggests people are holding on to their iPhones longer. As upgrades plateau and prices increase, people likely see less of a need to trade in their iPhones for the latest models. AI represents an opportunity for Apple to buck that trend.
Now iPhone owners will have to decide whether Apple Intelligence is enough of a reason to upgrade.
Apple certainly hopes so.
