Apple's Latest iPhones Feature Enhanced AI for Holiday Shopping Season

Apple is enhancing its latest iPhones with more artificial intelligence capabilities just in time for the holiday shopping season. A free software update, iOS 18.2, has introduced new features that allow users to create customized emojis in a few seconds.

New Features of iOS 18.2

Released on a Wednesday, this update marks a significant expansion into AI for Apple, following the lead of competitors like Samsung and Google. The upgrade builds on a previous update launched in late October, aimed at ushering Apple into the AI era for its devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

AI Emojis and Additional Features

One of the standout features is called "Genmojis," which lets users request custom emojis generated by AI that can be shared instantly. Apple has implemented measures to restrict the creation of inappropriate or harmful imagery. Other useful tools included in the update are an “Image Playground” for AI-generated illustrations and writing aids that help summarize emails.

Device Compatibility and Upgrade Expectations

It's important to note that older iPhone models released before 2023 won't support these new AI features due to the absence of the required special processors. This technology is compatible with the iPhone 16 series, which debuted in September, and the premium iPhone 15 models launched last year.

This limitation is expected to drive a surge in iPhone upgrades during the holiday shopping rush, thus boosting Apple's profits beyond the record $94 billion earned in the last fiscal year that ended in September. As a result, Apple’s stock price has risen by approximately 30% this year, placing the company's overall market value near the $4 trillion mark for the first time.

Expanding AI's Reach

The new AI features also include English versions tailored for various regions such as Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. Apple maintains a unique focus on user privacy, processing most AI functions directly on devices or securing them within dedicated data centers. For users seeking even more advanced AI capabilities, there is an option to tap into ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, which has partnered with Apple.

Apple, iPhone, AI