As excitement mounts over Apple Intelligence, many users of older iPhones and the Vision Pro feel left in the technological dust. Here’s why Apple Intelligence isn’t compatible with these devices, stirring up feelings of betrayal among loyal Apple users.
The Core Issue: Chip Capability and Server Demands
Apple’s recent statements clarify that older iPhones lack the processing power necessary for Apple Intelligence. According to discussions with John Gruber, Apple designed Apple Intelligence specifically for hardware integration, not just cloud-based computation. This means that older devices simply don’t have the hardware capacity to run Apple Intelligence efficiently.
The Cloud Computing Conundrum
Many question why Apple doesn’t shift all operations to Private Cloud Compute, especially when older devices falter. This method is already used for numerous Siri requests. However, relying entirely on cloud computing for Apple Intelligence would massively increase server demands, surpassing Apple’s current capabilities.
Vision Pro’s Surprising Exclusion
Despite being equipped with the potent M2 chip, the Vision Pro will not support Apple Intelligence. The M2 chip in Vision Pro is already operating near its capacity limits, particularly its Neural Engine, which is extensively utilized for real-time processing tasks. Therefore, there’s no spare capacity to handle additional demands from Apple Intelligence.
User Interface Concerns
Gruber also highlights the potential user inconvenience in continuously granting permissions for ChatGPT interactions, noting the absence of a “Always Allow” option. This could lead to frustration as users must repeatedly grant permission, though there is hope that Apple may address this in future updates.
In summary, the lack of support for Apple Intelligence on older iPhones and the Vision Pro stems from insufficient chip capacities and the overwhelming server load that would result from fully cloud-dependent operations. As Apple navigates these technological and user experience challenges, many hope for future enhancements that might expand Apple Intelligence’s compatibility.
