Apple Intelligence is set to be introduced to the Apple Watch, albeit in a limited manner.
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In his latest Power On newsletter, Apple insider Mark Gurman reports that the Apple Watch will not be integrated with onboard Apple Intelligence; however, it will incorporate useful features driven by AI. Although the Apple Watch won’t undergo a significant redesign, Gurman notes that it will see some new interface elements and offer users a “smaller taste of the big shifts underway at Apple.”
These forthcoming updates will be elaborated upon during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Gurman indicates that the primary topics for the June event will be Apple Intelligence and a project known internally as Solarium, which is a new design language Apple intends to implement across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
“The watch currently does not have Apple Intelligence, and that situation will not significantly change with the upcoming watchOS 12 software. However, the company is labeling a new range of features as 'powered by Apple Intelligence' (even though the device isn’t directly running the AI models),” Gurman explains.
While these features have yet to be officially confirmed, previous rumors suggest that notification summaries and similar functionalities may be introduced to the wearables. Additionally, the much-anticipated Siri redesign might also arrive on phones through an over-the-air update.
Gurman also hinted at potential hardware changes for the Apple Watch in the “next couple of years,” though he did not provide a specific timeline. He mentioned that AI-capable cameras could be introduced to the Apple Watch (and possibly to AirPods) during this period, inspired by the success of Meta’s glasses.
As for when to expect these changes, there is no definitive timeline available. Nevertheless, Apple has ramped up its research efforts to stay competitive. Therefore, it is likely that more information will be shared in June at WWDC, with updates rolling out in the months that follow.
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Apple Intelligence has now expanded internationally on a larger scale, incorporating more languages and regions than ever before. Apple has announced that new features and languages will be introduced, broadening the reach of its artificial intelligence software.
Apple has already released the latest iOS 18.4 update, which is available for download and installation now. The update includes numerous new features, with the addition of eight brand new emojis likely being a significant incentive for users.
It appears that tablets are increasingly serving as the testing ground for Apple’s next-generation silicon. The 2024 iPad Pro saw the introduction of Apple’s M4 chip before its appearance in Mac hardware. The upcoming iPad Pro refresh may be “one of the first devices” to feature a M5 series processor. According to Bloomberg, the next-gen iPad Pro is in advanced stages of internal testing and is expected to be available later this year, likely in the Fall.
Earlier this year, Apple updated its Mac lineup with the M4 series chips, including the MacBook Air, Pro, and Studio models. Since the M4 Pro and M4 Max processors were only released late last year, it seems increasingly likely that the M5 will debut later this year, followed by its Pro, Max, or Ultra variants. Given the relatively “fresh” status of the current Mac hardware, the upcoming iPad Pro appears to be the most likely candidate to receive the next-gen M5 processor. “The new versions of that model, identified by the codenames J817, J818, J820, and J821, are in the late testing phase within Apple and are on track for production in the latter half of this year,” the report adds.
Regarding the M5 iPad Pro, Apple is not expected to implement any significant aesthetic changes, due to its historical design approach. The iPad Pro received a substantial design refresh in 2024, featuring a slender appearance, one fewer camera, and a new keyboard accessory.
As for the silicon, the M5 series is anticipated to be based on the 3nm process and built on ARM’s next-gen CPU architecture. Alongside the 2025 iPad Pro, Apple is also set to unveil new MacBook Pro models later this year, powered by an M5-tier processor.
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Apple Intelligence is set to be introduced to the Apple Watch, albeit in a limited manner.
Although the Apple Watch won't be able to run Apple Intelligence directly, it will have certain features accessible through the iPhone.