WWDC: Will Apple lead the world in AI? I think it might…

I think the answer to the headline question is yes. Here is why I think that,

What’s happening?

At time of writing Apple is expected to introduce new AI features across its devices. These will be made available across its platforms later this year and are expected to combine on-device and cloud-based AI services, similar to (and possibly including) some services from Chat GPT.

These solutions will build on all the existing AI tools Apple already packs inside its platforms and operating systems. That’s everything from Face ID to photo collection or even silly Siri speaking when it does.

But the introduction of AI is how the company intends riding the AI wave of change that’s unleashing itself across all our ecosystems right now. That’s the wave the company has been described as lagging behind, but it doesn’t intend to stay behind forever. It’s going to explain this later on today.

But once the new tools are announced, what happens next?

What will you need?

We’ve heard Apple’s solutions will need the latest processors to run. That means you’ll need to be using an iPhone 15 or later and/or a Mac or iPad running at least an M1 processor, so most Macs sold since 2020 and a substantial number of iPads.

So how many machines will run these features from the start? Estimates vary but let us agree that compatible devices should include perhaps 200 million iPhones, 100 million iPads, and approximately 50 million Macs.

That means from day one Apple Intelligence (which is what Mark Gurman at Bloomberg thinks the company will call its service) will run on approximately 350 million devices. That makes for either a fantastic early deployment or an incredibly wide beta testing program, depending how you choose to look at it.

Either way it’s a big number that easily competes with the user base for Microsoft Copilot (400 million). People will want to get a slice of this action, which means that over half a billion devices will be running Apple Intelligence by this time next year, (and that’s a conservative number).

It is also worth noting that the Apple Watch will be able to access these services, so long as you are using a compatible iPhone – that’s going to dent the market for AI wearables, methinks.

The big number

So.. with an achievable path to supporting half a billion AI users within the next 12 months, Apple’s AI attempt will certainly pack a powerful punch.

So, will Apple lead the world in AI?

While a lot does depend on the extent to which people like Apple’s AI solutions and actually trust/make use of them, in numbers at least the company will very soon have the leading AI ecosystem, or at least one that competes with the world’s most used platforms. Sure, any device that can access ChatGPT has some claim to this, but the beauty of Apple’s approach will be the extent to which it integrates with the products.

All this means that if Apple gets this right, and people do like what it provides, the road map right now from being back of the pack to seizing position in the top three runners on the track is pretty clear. And Apple doesn’t generally choose to be in third place.

But perhaps the most interesting thought is yet to come.

After all, Apple had been expected to introduce an iPhone SE model this year. We’ve not seen that appear yet. But is it possible that when it does appear the company intends packing that device out with an iPhone 15 chip? And if it does to what extent would that lower-cost iPhone almost immediately become the mass market consumer toy of choice for the brave new world of AI smartphones?

Apple will lead the world for (private) Ai. You can see it coming.

Please follow me on Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolic’s bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.