Artificial Intelligence Conquers the Apple Universe: ChatGPT and More on the iDevices

Apple expands its product portfolio with an exciting AI component. With the latest Apple Intelligence update, ChatGPT finally makes its way to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The software is available with iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS 15.2, and also includes a visual intelligence feature for the iPhone 16's camera control as well as image generation technologies Image Playground and Genmoji. This latest move is the second of several announced upgrades that Apple plans to implement in the coming months. The new functions are among the most anticipated features of Apple Intelligence and are intended to minimize the technological lag compared to competitors. Despite the announcement, Apple's stock rose minimally by less than 1%. The company launched the first round of Apple Intelligence in October, which already introduced features like notification overviews and writing tools. Apple places great hopes on these advancements to boost iPhone sales, especially as growth in the smartphone market slows. However, evidence that users are upgrading their devices more quickly due to the update is yet to be seen. The introduction of ChatGPT on the iPhone marks a significant milestone for Apple in establishing powerful AI across all devices. Users can access the generative AI chatbot via Siri, writing tools, and image-based visual search intelligence. Privacy remains a focus: user data is not shared with OpenAI unless registration occurs. Apple's visual intelligence allows users to identify real objects using the camera. A restaurant, a piece of clothing, or a document – the intelligence takes over the searching and analyzing. Users can choose whether to use ChatGPT or Google Search for detailed inquiries. However, the visual intelligence and Apple Intelligence in general are only available to the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max models, as only these are equipped with powerful chips for on-device AI. New features also include the Image Playground and Genmoji, which allow users to create entertaining images using natural language – from dogs jumping through flaming hoops to selfies that suddenly show oneself in the gym.