California. Apple is set to roll out a free software update that will introduce its first wave of artificial intelligence features to the iPhone 16 lineup, as the company looks to keep pace with the latest technology trends.

The upgrade to the iOS 18 operating system, scheduled for Monday, follows the launch of four iPhone 16 models that went on sale more than a month ago. These models, priced between $800 (Rp. 12.58 million) and $1,200, are equipped with the specialized chip needed for the new AI capabilities. Last year’s high-end models, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, will also support AI features after the update.

The new software will also be available for recent versions of Apple’s iPad and Mac computers. However, customers outside the US will have to wait until next year for the AI ​​update, with the exact date still to be determined. Apple has spent the past five weeks testing the AI ​​software with a select group of iPhone users who volunteered to help refine the technology.

One of the main improvements is expected to transform Apple’s often clunky virtual assistant, Siri, into a more conversational and versatile companion. Siri’s new capabilities will be indicated by a bright light that surrounds the iPhone’s screen while it processes requests.

Although Apple claims that Siri will perform more tasks with greater precision, it will not be able to interact with other apps installed on the iPhone until a future update is released, the timing is not known. not yet specified.

The update will also include various AI features for writing and proofreading tasks, summarizing emails and documents, and providing photo editing tools to make it easier to find older images . Future updates are expected to offer additional features, such as the ability to create custom emojis on demand and generate other imaginative images. Apple also plans to eventually integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT to help users with their requests.

Many of the AI ​​features Apple unveiled on Monday are already available on Android devices from Samsung and Google, launched earlier this year.

To differentiate its approach to AI from the first leaders in the field, Apple is marketing its new technological suite under the name “Apple Intelligence”. The company emphasizes that its AI features will prioritize user privacy, either by processing data on-device or in secure data centers for tasks requiring remote processing.

Since most existing iPhones lack the chip needed for the new AI capabilities, demand for the new models is expected to increase during the holiday season and next year. That anticipated demand has driven Apple’s stock price up 18% since it outlined its AI strategy at a conference in early June, increasing the company’s market value by about $500 billion. and bringing it closer to becoming the first US company valued at $4 trillion.

Investors will get their first glimpse of the iPhone 16’s performance on Thursday, when Apple reports its quarterly financial results for the July-September period, which includes the first days of sales of the new models.

Demand for high-end iPhone 15 models has increased as prices have fallen and excitement over Apple’s entry into the AI ​​market has grown, according to a recent analysis from International Data Corp. Apple’s iPhone shipments rose 3.5% year-on-year, reaching 56 million worldwide in the July-September period, putting it just behind Samsung. The key question now is whether the gradual rollout of AI features will incentivize owners of older iPhones to invest in the new models during the holidays, “thus ensuring the longevity of their purchases,” as Nabila noted Popal, analyst at IDC.

Indonesia still bans iPhone 16

However, Indonesian consumers will have to wait longer to enjoy these AI features. iPhone 16 devices are currently banned from sale in Indonesia due to issues with local components. While travelers, flight crews and courier services can bring devices for their personal use, official sales are suspended.

Indonesian Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said iPhone 16s cannot be sold in the country until Apple fulfills its investment commitments to obtain local component certification (TKDN) through an investment program. Apple has committed to increase its investments by another 240 billion rupees, bringing its total investment to 1.48 trillion rupees.

Once Apple meets this investment requirement, the government will allow the latest iPhone, officially launched on September 20, 2024, as well as other new Apple products, to enter the Indonesian market.

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