In context: When Apple Intelligence launched final yr with iOS 18.1, the corporate introduced a 4GB storage requirement for its AI-powered options, together with Visible Intelligence and Siri with ChatGPT integration. On the time, the requirement appeared affordable, provided that a lot of the processing happens regionally on the gadget to prioritize consumer privateness.
Quick ahead to final month’s launch of iOS 18.2, and the storage requirement for Apple Intelligence has jumped to a staggering 7GB of free house per gadget, in response to Apple’s web site. That is practically double the unique requirement in only a few months.
The doubtless cause? All of the shiny new AI options packed into iOS 18.2. These embody the Genmoji customized emoji creator, an AI picture generator known as Playground, the Visible Intelligence characteristic for figuring out objects and locations, and, after all, ChatGPT for textual content composition alongside a considerably smarter Siri.
These options are undoubtedly helpful for a lot of, however the 7GB storage requirement is a big hurdle – particularly for customers who wish to allow Apple Intelligence throughout a number of gadgets like an iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Collectively, that provides as much as a hefty 21GB of storage.
The irritating half is the shortage of flexibility. Customers cannot decide and select which AI options to allow, leaving them with restricted choices: improve to the next storage tier when shopping for new {hardware}, pay for added iCloud storage, or forgo Apple Intelligence altogether.
Sadly, reduction would not look like on the horizon. Whereas iOS 18.3 would not introduce main new AI capabilities, Apple has introduced larger Siri upgrades for iOS 18.4 in April, which may push the storage necessities even greater.
Apple defends its strategy by emphasizing the benefits of on-device AI processing, together with quicker efficiency, improved responsiveness, and enhanced privateness safety in comparison with cloud-based fashions. Nonetheless, these advantages come at the price of consuming house that might in any other case retailer images, movies, apps, or recordsdata.
For these fighting storage limitations, Apple does supply an opt-out. You may fully disable Apple Intelligence by navigating to Settings > Apple Intelligence.
