Apple gives a big hint about a major iPhone 16 upgrade as company races to catch up with Android and Samsung

APPLE researchers have released a set of AI models that could be used to help power its next-generation iPhone 16.

The Silicon Valley giant has been tight-lipped regarding its plans for artificial intelligence (AI) inside iPhones – but that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from churning.

What Apple boss Tim Cook has confirmed is that the company is working on new generative AI features, as Google’s Android and Samsung push ahead in the field.

Earlier this year, Cook announced that Apple was investing “a tremendous amount of time and effort” into the cause.

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence technology that has the ability to create new content from text-based prompts.

So far, Apple has only introduced AI to improve auto-corrections.

Now, Apple has released OpenELM, which stands for “Open-source Efficient Language Models”.

The company still hasn’t given any indication as to how OpenELM might be used in future products, such as the iPhone 16.

But the small but “efficient” language models look built to run on smaller consumer devices, like smartphones.

This means they can run more quickly and don’t have to rely on a speedy Wi-Fi connection.

Language models are the algorithms that power generative AI programmes and chatbots, like ChatGPT and Meta AI.

Earlier this year, Apple researchers published a new model that allows users to edit photos by writing messages and another that can understand what is happening on a smartphone and help people navigate them, according to the Independent.

It’s thought some Apple AI updates might be unveiled at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WDC) in June.

Apple’s marketing chief, Greg Joswiak, said the event would be “Absolutely Incredible”, using capital letters in an apparent hint that AI features are coming.

SUPER SMART SIRI

A new-and-improved Siri that uses generative AI is one of the most anticipated rumoured updates in iOS 18.

Siri is hoped to be injected with a touch of generative AI, to transform it from a voice assistant to a chatbot.

This requires Siri to be trained how to communicate with large language models, which include a billion or more pieces of language data.

Generative AI technology “should improve how both Siri and the Messages app can field questions and auto-complete sentences,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has a strong track history with Apple leaks.

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