Since its launch in 2007, the iPhone redefined the concept of a smartphone and profoundly transformed society. By introducing an intuitive touchscreen interface combined with internet access, the iPhone not only facilitated communication and access to information, but also changed the way we work, have fun and relate to each other.
It has fueled an ecosystem of apps that have revolutionized entire industries, from transportation to entertainment. Today, with each new release, the iPhone continues to influence technological and social trends, shaping the way we live and interact with the world.
Glowtime
At the event Glowtime from Apple, scheduled for Monday, September 9, Tim Cook and his team will reveal the new line of smartphones iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Proin addition to presenting its vision of generative artificial intelligence to the public. But what if Apple decided to take a forward-thinking stance and ignore the AI trend that is dominating the market?
AI-powered smartphones
In October 2023, the launch of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro Google’s Android brought the world the “first AI-powered smartphones.” Since then, the smartphone market has followed suit. Each new smartphone release features the use of generative AI to create content from scratch, summarize articles, generate new images, and more. And where Android leads, Apple often follows.
Apple late to the trend
It’s no secret that Apple is late to certain trends — its late entry into AR is a recent example, as is its introduction of wireless charging and third-party app support. But Apple has always touted these innovations as “the unique Apple way,” often accompanied by magical branding like AirPower or Spatial Video. Generative AI, now referred to as Apple Intelligence, joins that list.
Apple’s approach to this new world of AI, branding aside, looks remarkably similar to what Android and Google’s partners are offering. Apple is expected to implement tools that rewrite text in different styles, summarize text and notifications, and generate new images and videos. The differences will be subtle, likely in interface design and presentation, but Apple is following a path its rivals have been treading for months.
Dangers of AI
However, the dangers of generative AI are becoming increasingly apparent. As smartphones bring AI into everyday use for a wider audience, the risks become even clearer. Researchers are investigating and highlighting real problems; one example is the study “Generative AI Misuse: A Taxonomy of Tactics and Insights from Real-World Data,” written with contributions from Google DeepMind and others. The study reveals worrying patterns of AI misuse across modalities such as images, text, audio, and video.
The new AI tools in the Pixel 9 family, which will soon become common on Android, allow ideas to be weaponized as information. Reports, such as this one from The Verge, show how AI can be used to add disasters and dead bodies to photos, exemplifying the technology’s harmful potential when combined with malicious intent and the toxicity of online cultures.
Is this the path Apple wants to follow?
Here, the focus is on generative AI. Other applications of AI aren’t as creatively problematic. Machine learning, a subset of AI, is already present in many core iOS features, such as Face ID unlocking, combining multiple photos into one, smart calendar suggestions, and predictive text on the keyboard. Notably, all of these features keep the data and processing on the device itself, with well-defined benefits and clear limits.
With the recent passage of the California AI Safety Bill (SB 1047) by the State Assembly and Senate, the debate over regulating generative AI has come to the forefront. Apple, with its political clout and focus on protecting its users, may be the only company capable of pausing and reflecting on the impact of generative AI. Perhaps the best strategy is to not play the generative AI game and instead use AI as a field of assistive technologies, with clear and controlled functions.
Limiting generative AI
Tim Cook and his team have already demonstrated that they are willing to isolate and block apps and services that they believe are harmful to users until the issues are resolved. Limiting generative AI on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro could give the industry time to reconsider its actions before this digital Pandora’s box is opened for good.
Summary for those in a hurry:
- iPhone has transformed society since its launch in 2007, redefining the concept of a smartphone.
- Apple will launch the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro at its Glowtime event, showcasing its vision for generative AI.
- Generative AI is already present in competitors like Google’s Pixel 8, being used to create content in a variety of ways.
- Apple is known for embracing trends in unique ways, with special branding like AirPower and Apple Intelligence.
- Researchers warn of the dangers of misusing generative AI in multimodal content.
- Apple may choose to limit generative AI in its new iPhones, prioritizing assistive technologies with well-defined functions.
Source: Atrevida
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
