Apple shed light on why its recently announced AI suite, Apple Intelligence, is exclusive to newer devices like the iPhone 15 Pro and Macs/iPads with M-series chips. John Giannandrea, Apple’s head of AI, explained that the complex calculations required by large language models necessitate powerful hardware to deliver a seamless user experience. Older devices simply don’t have the processing muscle or bandwidth to run these models efficiently.
Unlike traditional AI implementations that rely on cloud-based processing, Apple Intelligence is designed to function directly on the user’s device. This on-device processing approach offers several advantages, including improved privacy and faster response times. However, it also demands significant computational resources. Apple Intelligence integrates seamlessly into newer operating systems, acting as an intelligent layer that enhances various user interactions. Unfortunately, this means users with older devices, such as the iPhone 14 Pro Max or iPhone 15, won’t be able to experience these AI-powered features.
While some users might find this limitation frustrating, Apple executives like Greg Joswiak maintain that it’s not a ploy to drive sales of newer devices. Joswiak argues that if that were Apple’s goal, they would have restricted access to an even wider range of devices. The question of whether the upcoming standard iPhone 16 will support Apple Intelligence remains unanswered for now. We’ll likely have to wait a few more months to find out.
