Mashable: Apple has strategized a significant AI transformation in iOS 18; however, certain novel functionalities may not be compatible with older iPhone models, despite their inclusion in the device compatibility list of the new operating system.

Apple will reveal iOS 18 one week from today!

What features do you want to see? pic.twitter.com/jKbg39FvLu — Apple Hub (@theapplehub) June 3, 2024

Apple's initial AI roadmap for iOS 18 consists of two parts: basic AI features that can be processed on the device itself, and more advanced capabilities that will require communication with Apple's servers. The centerpiece of these features is a revamped Siri. In order to achieve this, Apple engineers have had to restructure the underlying software of Siri using large language models (LLMs), which serve as the foundation for generative AI, reports MacRumors.

As per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, this development will empower Siri to perform tasks such as opening specific documents, organizing notes in folders, deleting emails, summarizing articles, emailing web links, and more. Apple intends to utilize AI to analyze users' activities on their devices and automatically enable these features.

Apple's own LLM is expected to handle what are considered basic AI tasks, and it will operate entirely on the device itself. In other words, the model will be powered by the iPhone's processor rather than relying on cloud computing. The specific criteria for categorizing a task as basic are not yet clear, but the LLM is said to include code that determines whether a request can be processed on the device or if it requires Apple's servers.

According to Gurman, the on-device AI capabilities will primarily be available on the iPhone 15 Pro or later models. Meanwhile, rumors suggest that iOS 18 will be compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17. Taking both reports into account, it can be inferred that certain iPhone models will be able to run iOS 18 but may lack support for some of Apple's on-device AI features.

iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
iPhone SE (3rd generation)

The only thing we want from iOS 18 is this...#iOS18 #WWDC24 pic.twitter.com/sKkHvNJRKr — iGeeksBlog | #AppleEvent (@igeeksblog) May 30, 2024