Not WWDC 2024, it was in 1987 when Apple gave glimpse of Apple Intelligence to its users. Kind of

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 12, 2024 18:00 IST

At the 2024 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 11, Apple introduced its new personal intelligence system, Apple Intelligence. With this new generative AI, Apple aims to transform the iPhone, iPad, and Mac experience, with enhanced privacy and personal context at its core. Interestingly, for Apple, the concept of Apple Intelligence is not new but a vision it saw years ago. In fact, the company first hinted at a similar vision back in 1987 with its Knowledge Navigator.

The Knowledge Navigator, showcased in a 1987 Apple-produced video, presented a futuristic computing system that remarkably parallels today's AI advancements. In a YouTube video by Mac History titled "Apple Knowledge Navigator Video (1987)," a video shows a very old Apple concept teaser where a tablet computer acts as the primary interface, featuring a digital agent that assists users by remembering tasks, finding information, and helping with presentations. This digital "agent" also engages in conversations with users, a feature that is similar to today's AI assistants like Siri.

The Knowledge Navigator's interface also included features familiar to Mac users: a menu bar, icons, and windows. It also predicted several technologies now commonplace, such as video chat, linked databases, networked collaboration, and integrated multimedia and hypertext. No doubt these early concepts of Apple were ahead of their time and laid the groundwork for future innovations.

Former Apple CEO John Sculley also described this vision in his 1987 book, "Odyssey: Pepsi to Apple," suggesting that the Knowledge Navigator has long influenced Apple's approach to AI. Cut to 2024, the unveiling of Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024 seems to be the fruition of this decades-old vision, bringing to life the futuristic ideas depicted in the Knowledge Navigator with the power of AI.

While the real power of Apple Intelligence will be seen later this year with the official rollout, the AI looks promising based on the launch video. According to Apple, Apple Intelligence differs from generic AI models as it tailors its interactions based on the user's behaviour, preferences, and personal data such as calendar entries and communication history. This integration allows it to understand and predict user needs more accurately, providing a level of contextual awareness similar to, but more advanced than, AI systems like ChatGPT.

Deeply embedded into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, Apple Intelligence leverages the power of Apple Silicon to process language and images, working seamlessly across applications to enhance productivity and user experience. It uses Apple's Private Cloud Compute to balance on-device processing with server-based models, ensuring robust performance while maintaining user privacy. This architecture is designed to scale computational capacity efficiently and securely, providing advanced AI capabilities without compromising privacy.

As for features, Apple Intelligence offers a suite of tools to improve communication and creativity. Its Writing Tools help users write, rewrite, proofread, and summarise text across various applications, boosting confidence in their written communication. In terms of visual creativity, features like Image Playground and Genmoji allow users to generate images and emojis using natural language prompts. Furthermore, Siri is enhanced with contextual awareness, making it more responsive and personalised. Overall, Apple Intelligence aims to simplify tasks, enhance creative expression, and provide a more intuitive and secure AI experience on Apple devices.