Apple Intelligence, part of the upcoming iOS 18, introduces a new suite of AI capabilities designed to change how users interact with apps. While the App Store model faces scrutiny, AI technology like ChatGPT is rising in popularity, offering simpler ways to solve everyday problems. Apple aims to bridge this gap by integrating AI directly into its app ecosystem, offering both users and developers exciting new possibilities.
Apple Intelligence, although currently limited in features, is a major step forward for the company’s AI strategy. With tools that assist with writing, image generation, and summarization, it gives users a taste of what the future holds. However, its true potential lies in its interactions with Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, which will soon take on a more significant role in app functionality.
Siri’s Enhanced Capabilities
At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), new features were unveiled for developers to integrate Siri with Apple Intelligence. Siri will soon be able to access any menu item in an app without additional coding. This means users will no longer need to manually navigate through complex menus. A simple command like “show me the speaker notes” in a presentation app will be enough for Siri to take action. Similarly, Siri will be able to understand the context of a page and act accordingly, whether it’s reading a reminder or responding to an on-screen prompt.
For instance, if you’re reminded to call a family member, saying “FaceTime him” will prompt Siri to initiate the call without further explanation. These improvements vastly expand Siri’s capabilities beyond the limited tasks it currently handles. Additionally, users will be able to communicate naturally with Siri, referencing personal contexts and conversational cues—a significant leap forward in user convenience.
Developer Opportunities and Future Expansion
Developers will also benefit from Apple’s AI framework. During WWDC, Apple announced that the AI functions would initially be available for specific types of apps like eBook readers, browsers, and cameras. However, this will eventually extend to all apps in the App Store, meaning that Siri could soon function seamlessly across various apps. This advancement is built on Apple’s expanding App Intents framework, which developers can leverage to create more integrated experiences for their users.
The ultimate goal is simple: users should be able to open and interact with apps via voice commands alone. In practical terms, this means no more searching through complicated app menus—just tell Siri what you want, and it will execute the task. For instance, in a photo editing app, you could ask Siri to “apply a cinematic filter to the photo I took yesterday,” and it would not only find the photo but apply the desired filter instantly.
Additionally, Siri will be able to handle cross-app actions, such as moving an edited photo from one app to another, like Notes, without requiring the user to lift a finger. This level of integration further pushes Apple Intelligence into the everyday lives of its users, making their iPhone experience more seamless.
Adoption and Challenges
Of course, the success of Apple Intelligence will depend heavily on developer adoption. Apple’s historical tension with developers due to its revenue-sharing model may pose a challenge. Many developers have become frustrated by the company’s policies, which typically allow Apple to take 30% of the revenue generated from apps sold on its platform. However, the convenience of Siri-driven app navigation could lure developers back, especially as it offers a way to make their apps more accessible without cumbersome interfaces.
Developers will now be able to focus more on teaching Siri how to use their apps rather than creating user guides and tutorials. This mirrors the way AI chatbots like ChatGPT allow for more dynamic interactions with users through simple, natural language commands. And as AI continues to advance, developers will have even more tools at their disposal to improve app functionality.
Third-party developers will also benefit from Apple’s collaboration with OpenAI, notes NIX Solutions. If Siri doesn’t have an immediate answer, it can pass the request to ChatGPT. Additionally, Apple plans to integrate visual search capabilities, letting users access chatbots or search engines like Google directly through the camera’s viewfinder. This AI-powered camera will allow users to ask questions based on what they see in real-time, creating yet another layer of seamless interaction.
Current State and Expectations
While these developments are promising, they won’t feel revolutionary right away. The pace of developer adoption may vary, and users might not experience the full power of Apple Intelligence immediately. Early versions of iOS 18 have shown mixed results, with some functionality feeling incomplete. For example, you can ask Siri to send a photo you’re viewing in the Photos app, but you can’t yet ask it to turn that photo into a sticker or apply more complex edits. These gaps in functionality could frustrate users until the AI matures.
Apple will need to fine-tune Siri’s abilities to meet user expectations fully. However, with continuous updates and broader adoption by developers, the vision Apple has laid out will likely become reality over time.
We’ll keep you updated as more features roll out, and the AI grows into the tool Apple envisions it to be.