iOS 18 may feature AI-driven iMessage summaries in a humane and Pinterest-style manner

We’ve been inundated with rumors about iOS 18 introducing novel AI-driven functionalities, especially after Apple CEO Tim Cook repeatedly confirmed the company’s endeavors in generative AI features. A recent report suggests that iPhone and iPad users may soon enjoy the capability to condense lengthy text messages using AI.

AppleInsider, purportedly citing sources acquainted with the software, asserts that Apple’s generative AI will empower users to summarize extensive texts. The AI purportedly identifies pertinent information such as company names, individuals, and locations mentioned within the text.

For example, if a name appears at the text’s outset, the software is expected to recognize it as the author’s name. The feature, as explained by the website, can extract data from Safari and Messages, and potentially from other text fields or digital documents.

Earlier this year, 9to5Mac stumbled upon evidence of a new framework named “SiriSummarization” within the iOS 17.4 code. A prior leak had hinted at a forthcoming “Safari Browsing Assistant” feature in iOS 18, presumably aimed at highlighting crucial content on webpages.

Apple has been crafting its proprietary language model for complete offline functionality, while also in negotiations with OpenAI and Google to potentially integrate their technologies into iOS 18. However, according to AppleInsider’s sources, the summarization feature for Safari and Messages will operate entirely offline, leveraging Apple’s Ajax language model.

The implementation of a fully offline language model ensures quicker responses and enhances privacy since all processing occurs on the device, eliminating the need to transmit data to external servers.

Further Insights into Apple’s AI Endeavors
During an investor call on Thursday, Tim Cook once again hinted at Apple’s forthcoming generative AI, highlighting the company’s competitive edge. He emphasized Apple’s distinct advantage in seamless hardware, software, and services integration, which he believes will differentiate the company in the realm of AI.