AI for the Rest of Us
Apple is touting a Fall 2024 release of iOS 18 and we’re excited to see it. From their official website and features PDF we can see the main focus is making your life simpler with integrated Siri, the ability to prioritize your email and more ChatGPT-style interface. Features like AI powered emojis might also be fun to play with overall the message is it’s intelligent and customizable to you. It reminds us of the movie Her.
See also How to use Apple Intelligence with my iPhone 16.
We’ll have to see exactly how good it is, but if the pace of other models is any indication, it should be pretty smooth. Imagine Apple AI embedded in an Optimus Robot?
How does Apple Intelligence Use My Data?
Apple emphasizes user privacy in its approach to AI and machine learning, especially with Siri and other on-device intelligence features. Generally, Apple tries to minimize the data it collects and ensures that, when data is used, it’s done so in a way that protects privacy:
- On-Device Processing: Apple processes much of its data directly on your device rather than on servers, which helps keep personal information private. This includes features like image and speech recognition and the Apple Neural Engine used for various AI-related tasks.
- Data Minimization and Anonymization: When data needs to be sent to Apple servers, it often uses techniques like differential privacy to add “noise” to data so that it cannot be traced back to you individually. Siri, for instance, anonymizes requests after a certain period.
- Control Over Your Data: Apple allows users to control what data is shared. You can manage data-sharing settings in your device’s settings, including whether you want to share analytics data with Apple or allow personalized Siri suggestions.
- Explicit Consent: Apple doesn’t use user data for advertising and limits what third-party apps can access without explicit permission.
Apple’s approach is unique in the tech landscape, especially compared to companies that depend heavily on data for targeted ads and other personalized services. However, it’s worth reviewing Apple’s privacy policy and regularly checking your settings if you have specific privacy concerns.