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WWDC: Apple Intelligence, new smarter Siri and lots more
WWDC is Apple’s annual conference during which they talk about all things software. Day 1 is always the biggest, and I watched all hour-and-a-half-plus of the event to update you on what’s new.
Come this fall, you’ll see … a new Passwords app that works across your Apple devices, better iPhone customization options, easier texting with your Android pals, and the ability to reply to all texts and iMessages with emojis. (Can’t wait to reply to Barry with an eye roll. Sorry, honey.)
OK, those are neat upgrades, but the real changes are all about AI.
Introducing AI
Not artificial intelligence — Apple Intelligence. No joke, that’s what they’re calling it. Personalization and making your life easier are the big focuses. Some of the highlights:
- Create original, personalized animations and images to use in chat.
- Find things with natural commands, like, “What did Barry ask me to pick up at the grocery store?”
- Get alerts if there’s a conflict, like when someone adds a meeting to your schedule.
- See a quick summary of emails you receive and the ones you write.
- A new Rewrite feature can clean up anything you write across any app. That includes adjusting your tone, if need be. I’d be scared if I ran Grammarly …
- Turn rough sketches into polished images with the tap of a button.
If privacy comes to mind, yep, you’re smart. Apple says almost all its AI will run on your device only and never make it to their servers. Some will, and that’s where Private Cloud Compute comes in.
🔐 These are servers used for just AI purposes, and I’m willing to bet they’ll put the entire might of Apple behind securing them.
That AI powers the new Siri
- When Siri is active in iOS 18, the entire edge of your screen will illuminate. Whoa, earth-shattering!
- Describe a feature you can’t find and Siri will do it for you, like, “Siri, make the text on my phone bigger.”
- Edit photos with your voice: “Siri, make the picture brighter.”
- Get info without having to provide all the specifics. Ask Siri, “When is my trip to New York?” to pull up the flight info from your emails and planning texts with a friend.
One more thing: The bad news
All the shiny, new AI features require the latest and greatest Apple devices — the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with an M1 or later chip.
If you bought your iPad or Mac before 2021, you’re probably out of luck.
- To check a Mac: Hit the Apple icon in the top left corner, then select About This Mac. You’re in luck if you see Apple M1, M2 or M3. An Intel chip is old news.
- To check an iPad: Here’s a handy-dandy list that includes chips by model.
So, should I buy a new iPhone/iPad/Mac now?
No way! iOS 18 won’t launch until September, so time is on your side. Apple’s Black Friday deal is kinda lame. (You just get a gift card.) The best times to buy are mid-to-late July, then again in October and November. Now you know.
🍎 Why did Adam and Eve use Android? Because Eve violated the apple’s terms and conditions. Ha!
There are a lot more features coming, and I’ll give you previews along the way since I’m an Apple beta tester and should start seeing this stuff in action soon.
Tags: alerts, Android, Apple, Apple iPhone, Apple iPhone 15, Apple Siri, apps, Black Friday, devices, Earth, Feature, features, Images, personalization, phone, photos, privacy, texting, update, upgrades
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