The massive Apple event of the yr takes place tomorrow (September 9) with the launch of the iPhone 16 – however how will Apple’s new Apple Intelligence-equipped ultraphone examine to Samsung and Google’s finest?
With the arrival of the Google Pixel 9 final month and with the Samsung Galaxy S24 vary having sat excessive in most best phones lists (together with ours) all yr, Apple has work to do to keep forward of the competitors.
However irrespective of how spectacular the new {hardware} is, it will likely be in the AI enviornment that the battle between Google, Samsung and Apple might be gained. I’ve already had just a few weeks to play with Gemini Reside, so, listed below are my prime 5 ways in which Apple has an opportunity to steal the AI crown again from its rivals.
1. Do a greater job of integrating Siri with the cell OS
Each the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 9 have Gemini Reside onboard to deal with AI voice interactions (for those who subscribe to Gemini Superior), and whereas having the ability to discuss to your telephone prefer it’s a human is barely unnerving at first, you quickly get used to it.
The important thing to Siri pulling the similar trick, however higher, might be in how properly it integrates with the remainder of your telephone; it’s pointless having the ability to chat about what star signal you’re most suitable with until you may get Siri to hook up with your calendar app and let you know whether or not you’re free for a date on Thursday evening.
We’re nonetheless ready for Google to launch the extensions that may make this occur with Gemini; at the second, Gemini Reside responds with some model of, “I can’t use your Google Calendar once we’re stay, but”, in response to these types of requests.
Sadly, it’s not wanting seemingly that we’ll get the full Siri 2.0 experience until 2025, both, however Apple might shock us but.
2. Make the ChatGPT integration seamless
One benefit that Gemini seemingly has over Apple is that it’s solely utilizing one digital assistant, whereas Apple says that Siri will hand-off to ChatGPT for advanced questions it may possibly’t deal with. That might be effective if the integration is clean and seamless, however we’ll solely know the way properly it really works as soon as we will take a look at it.
In actuality, the Google Pixel nonetheless has Google Assistant doing numerous the heavy lifting and generally the integration between Gemini and the Assistant isn’t as clean because it may very well be. To launch Gemini Reside, for example, you continue to have to say “Hey, Google”, which brings up Google Assistant, then faucet the Go Reside icon – a clunky course of, to say the least.
I believe Apple has a superb probability of getting this proper straight out of the gate, however I might additionally count on Google to catch up as Gemini positive factors extra powers over time.
3. Higher integration with macOS
Google lately integrated Gemini into the Chrome address bar, which is a giant step ahead for telephone/PC/laptop computer integration, however there’s nonetheless no direct connection between Gemini in your telephone and your laptop.
Since Apple controls all the things in its ecosystem, from the {hardware} to the software program, and provided that Apple Intelligence will run on each macOS and iOS, it ought to have the opportunity to present higher integration choices. I simply need the capability to discuss to my iPhone and get it to do things on my Mac. Is that asking an excessive amount of? I don’t assume so.
4. Make Siri 2.0 free
There was lately some speak about Apple charging for Apple Intelligence, however trade insider Mark Gurman has reported that Apple is not charging for its Apple Intelligence features in the future, until at least until 2027.
In distinction, Google provides you a yr’s price of Gemini Superior (which you want to Go Reside with Gemini) without spending a dime with purchases of the Pixel 9 sequence, after which it’ll price $20 (£18.99, AU$32.99) a month. This seems like quite a bit simply to use the AI options you might need purchased the telephone for – and for those who personal an earlier Pixel, or certainly a Samsung telephone, you will positively have to shell out for the AI improve. Apple may simply win on this entrance, at least.
5. Don’t make us look ahead to it
As we have reported, it does not appear like the iPhone 16 can have Apple Intelligence at launch. Gurman, a well-respected skilled on all things Apple, revealed just a few weeks in the past that (*5*) to come to the iPhone, and till early 2025 and iOS 18.2 for the full Siri 2.0 expertise.
I get it – introducing synthetic intelligence to a bit of tech that matches into your pocket might be fairly the problem – however there was an opportunity right here for Apple to steal the impetus again from Google, which is presently main the cost with Gemini Reside already transport, even when it’s not all there but.
I am nonetheless hoping to be shocked by what occurs on tomorrow, nevertheless it’s wanting more and more like Apple Intelligence might be launched piecemeal. So whereas the future could also be right here, we’ll have to get used to getting it in installments.