WWDC 2024 Recap: Is Apple Intelligence Legit?

Summary

Apple's WWDC 2024 showcased a plethora of updates across its ecosystem, with a spotlight on 'Apple Intelligence,' a suite of AI-driven features. Key highlights include the introduction of Vision OS 2.0, iOS 18's customizable home screen, Mac OS 'Sequoia' with iPhone mirroring, and iPad OS 18's new calculator app with handwriting recognition. The keynote emphasized on-device AI capabilities, with privacy as a core focus, and a selective integration with OpenAI's chat GPT for complex tasks.

Takeaways

• 🎉 Apple's WWDC 2024 keynote introduced significant updates across all of its operating systems, with a notable focus on AI integration.
• 🕶️ Vision OS 2.0 was unveiled with new features like wrist turn gestures, immersive media enhancements, and improved Mac mirroring resolution.
• 📱 iOS 18 brought major customization options to the home screen, including the ability to freely place icons and a new theme engine for icon and widget color coordination.
• 📲 New control center customization and features like hidden apps and scheduled text messages were introduced for iOS and iPadOS.
• 🎮 AirPods received updates such as voice isolation during calls, spatial audio for games, and head gesture controls.
• 📺 Apple TV gained a feature displaying actors and character names in real-time, along with a voice boost feature to hear dialogue over music.
• 🏋️‍♂️ watchOS introduced a training mode for evaluating workout intensity and balance.
• 📘 iPadOS 18 featured a new calculator app with handwriting recognition and the ability to solve equations and graph variables directly on the iPad.
• 🌲 Mac OS Sequoia added features like automatic window snapping, built-in backgrounds for webcam feeds, and an improved password manager.
• 🧠 The introduction of 'Apple intelligence' rebranded AI features, focusing on generative models and large language models for on-device functionality.
• 🔒 A strong emphasis on privacy with AI features processing primarily on-device, and cloud processing only for complex tasks with user consent.

Q & A

What was the focus of Apple's WWDC Keynote in 2024?

The focus of Apple's WWDC Keynote in 2024 was on AI, which was introduced in the second half of the presentation, and was branded as 'Apple intelligence'. The first half of the keynote covered various updates across Apple's operating systems without mentioning AI.

What is the significance of the wrist turn gesture introduced in watchOS 2.0?

The wrist turn gesture in watchOS 2.0 allows users to quickly see the time and their battery percentage, and then immediately jump into the control center, making it more convenient than having to look up at the ceiling as before.

What new features were introduced for immersive media in watchOS 2.0?

watchOS 2.0 introduced features that use advanced machine learning to turn old photos into spatial photos and provided new tools for creating spatial and immersive videos on cameras other than the iPhone, with the ability to view them only on a Vision Pro.

How has the Mac mirroring resolution been improved in watchOS 2.0?

The Mac mirroring resolution has been improved in watchOS 2.0 by implementing fixed rendering on the Mac, which frees up resources and allows for up to double the resolution, enabling a larger ultrawide view for more room for windows and activities.

What major update did iOS 18 bring to the iPhone's home screen?

iOS 18 brought the ability to place icons wherever users want on the home screen grid, a feature that was met with applause during the keynote, as well as a new theme engine that allows for changing the color of every icon and widget to match the wallpaper.

How has the control center been redesigned in iOS 18?

The control center in iOS 18 has been redesigned to be fully customizable across multiple pages, with more customizable shortcuts in more places, including the ability to replace the flashlight and camera on the home screen without jailbreaking.

What is the new feature in iPadOS 18 that allows for remote control of an iPad?

iPadOS 18 introduced a feature in SharePlay that lets users remotely control someone else's iPad when they allow it, which is particularly useful for family tech support.

What is the notable new feature in the calculator app for iPadOS 18?

The notable new feature in the calculator app for iPadOS 18 is the addition of 'Math Notes', which allows users to write down equations in handwriting that the app recognizes and answers in the user's handwriting, with the ability to adjust equations and see real-time updates of the answer.

What is the name of the new version of Mac OS introduced at WWDC 2024?

The new version of Mac OS introduced at WWDC 2024 is called Sequoia.

What is Apple intelligence and how does it integrate AI into Apple's ecosystem?

Apple intelligence is a suite of new generative models and large language models built by Apple that bring new functionality to supported devices. It integrates AI into Apple's ecosystem by offering features like writing tools, cleanup tools in the Photos app, generative emojis, and an image playground, as well as Siri improvements for better context understanding and app integration.

How does Apple ensure privacy with the integration of OpenAI's chat GPT into Apple intelligence?

Apple ensures privacy by processing almost everything on the device using Apple-built models. If a task is too complex, it may use a server-based model on Apple's private cloud compute, ensuring no data is stored or sent to Apple. When using OpenAI's chat GPT, a prompt asks for user consent each time, and Apple obscures the user's IP address to prevent profiling.