iOS 18 to bring new AI features for Spotlight search

iOS 18 will add new AI features to the spotlight search tool which is a core functionality for iPhone and iPad devices reveals a report.

The report says that Apple is training its smart assistant Siri and Spotlight search tool using large language models (LLM). This upgrade will allow users to get more relative search results and interactive feedback.

Spotlight search allows users to find what’s on the local and the web. Its autocomplete can predict the name of a contact, settings, apps, or anything related in-device and on the internet.

It also integrates Siri suggestions for the most used and recent apps that will pop up the moment you swipe down on the home screen.

These two already have AI upgrades in the past through Apple’s Neural Engine (ANE) but LLM will maximize their output way further than just being AI.

LLM are very large deep learning models that are pre-trained with vast amounts of data sets to comprehend, summarize, generate, and predict new content on their own.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple is exploring ways to impose LLM training on most of its apps such as Apple Music, Keynote app, Health, Messages, Numbers, Pages, and Shortcuts. There are more apps to upgrade with AI features later on.

During a recent earnings call, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple said the company is developing generative AI and more details are coming later this year. In the second half of 2024, iPhone 16 will debut with a new A-series chipset built with an improved TSMC processing node.

A Taiwanese media report indicates that the new iPhones will carry a huge upgrade in the neural engine that will directly reflect in the AI features. These are pretty valid points as iOS 18 will require more computational power to support new AI features.