Apple has been making moves to incorporate AI into its ecosystem, but is it enough to keep up with industry leaders like Microsoft and Google? As competitors race ahead with cutting-edge AI integrations, Apple seems to be taking a more cautious approach. In this post, we’ll dive into the new AI features in iOS 18.2 and compare them to what Microsoft’s Copilot and Google Gemini are offering, to see where Apple stands in the AI race.

What’s New in Apple’s iOS 18.1 and 18.2 Updates for 2024? A Detailed Look at AI Features

Breaking Down Apple’s Latest AI Updates in 2024

While Apple’s new features are promising, the practical impact is still underwhelming compared to competitors. Experts argue that Apple’s focus on hardware-based AI limits the broader influence these updates could have, particularly since most users do not have the latest devices.

Apple’s incremental approach seems at odds with the kind of innovation needed to lead the AI race. Instead, it appears more like a strategy designed to push its loyal user base towards upgrading to the latest devices, such as the iPhone 15 Pro. This approach is seen as an effort to leverage new AI features as an incentive for hardware sales rather than a genuine push towards democratizing AI capabilities. The limitation of key features to the newest devices alienates a large portion of Apple’s customer base, making it harder for the average user to experience the benefits of these AI advancements without costly upgrades. 

In comparison to Microsoft Copilot’s AI features, Apple’s updates seem conservative, aiming for incremental productivity improvements rather than game-changing innovation. The goal? Boost productivity. Siri also got a slight boost in understanding context better, improving how it handles your schedules, emails, and daily tasks. Sounds good, right? The catch is, these improvements are mostly incremental.

iOS 18.2 Beta: Getting Creative with AI

The 18.2 beta brought in new visual features, expanding Apple’s AI presence. “Visual Intelligence” lets users interact with photos more effectively, extracting information and providing context from images. Features like Image Playground and Genomoji let users generate custom emojis and images from prompts.

But there’s a downside—most of these cool features are only available if you have the latest devices, like the iPhone 15 Pro. It feels like a reward only for those willing to pay for the new hardware, limiting accessibility for the average Apple user.

Microsoft’s Copilot: Going All-In on AI in 2024 — A True AI Productivity Tools Comparison

Microsoft has made significant strides in integrating AI capabilities into its productivity tools, and the impact is being felt across industries. For example, a recent case study showed that businesses using Microsoft Copilot experienced a 30% increase in productivity, thanks to seamless AI integration for document creation, meeting analysis, and data-driven decision-making.

While Apple has taken small, cautious steps, Microsoft is going full-speed ahead with AI, embedding it deeply across its products. Here’s how Microsoft’s Copilot leaves Apple’s efforts in the dust:

Microsoft Copilot’s AI Integration Across Microsoft 365 in 2024

Microsoft’s Copilot excels at providing integrated AI features across Microsoft 365, making it a strong competitor in AI productivity tools. You can generate content, create visual data, even have email responses automated. It’s all about simplifying workflows and boosting productivity using natural language. Compared to what Apple is doing, it’s a much deeper level of AI integration.

Copilot Studio: AI, Tailored for You

Then there’s Copilot Studio, which lets businesses create customized AI agents to automate specific workflows. This ability to tailor AI to particular business needs is something Apple’s current offerings simply don’t match.

Leveraging Azure and Business Chat for Enhanced AI Capabilities

It’s not just a productivity boost for individuals—it’s a system designed to elevate entire organizations. Azure Copilot and Business Chat bring together insights from meetings, documents, and emails, providing data that helps with decision-making. With such tools, Microsoft isn’t just helping individual users—they’re transforming how entire organizations operate.

Copilot Vision: The Next Frontier

Microsoft also announced Copilot Vision, a tool that will further integrate AI into everyday workflows, turning sketches into polished diagrams in PowerPoint, for example. It’s all about making AI an indispensable part of daily work—a clear contrast to Apple’s more restrained rollout.

Google’s Big Leap with Gemini AI in 2024: A Leader in AI Features Comparison

Google’s push with Gemini AI has also had a considerable effect, especially in the creative industries. In one case study, a marketing firm reported a 40% reduction in content production time by using Gemini’s AI-driven support for generating visual and written content, demonstrating the effectiveness of these tools in a real-world scenario.

Google is also miles ahead, making major strides with its Gemini AI, which aims to change how users interact with technology.

Google Gemini AI: A Comprehensive Overview of Its Features and Capabilities

Gemini works seamlessly with Google Workspace, enhancing Docs, Gmail, and Sheets with AI-driven support for generating text, summarizing content, and analyzing data. This deep integration makes Gemini much more versatile for everyday productivity compared to Apple’s AI efforts.

Gemini Live: Conversational AI Done Right

Google’s Gemini Live is making interactions more natural, providing hands-free and conversational experiences. This level of AI engagement makes Google Assistant feel like a real collaborator, helping with daily tasks. And with Project Jarvis, Google is taking it further, automating tasks like making purchases or booking flights—essentially, providing users with a personal digital assistant that can act independently.

Creative Edge with Gemini in Search and Content Tools

Google Gemini’s advanced AI tools enhance creativity and productivity, setting a new benchmark that leaves Apple’s AI features feeling minimal by comparison. Whether for work or personal projects, Google’s AI is all about making creative expression simpler and more accessible.

So, Where Does That Leave Apple in the AI Race?

When you look at Microsoft and Google, Apple’s AI feels timid by comparison. Apple is finally adding some AI features, but competitors are on another level—rolling out things that are more advanced and transforming how people work.

The Hardware Barrier: A Big Limitation for Apple’s AI in 2024

One major problem? Most of Apple’s AI tools are limited to the newest devices. Microsoft’s and Google’s efforts are device-agnostic, putting AI into everyone’s hands, not just the early adopters willing to drop money on the latest gadgets. By requiring users to upgrade to the latest hardware, Apple is limiting the potential impact of these new AI features.

Siri vs. Competitors: A Struggle to Keep Up

While Apple has been working to enhance Siri’s capabilities, it still falls behind its key competitors, Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa, in several crucial areas. Google Assistant continues to lead with superior contextual understanding, natural language processing, and seamless integration across Google services like Calendar, Maps, and Gmail. Its ability to handle complex, multi-step commands sets it apart as the most dynamic digital assistant available today.

Alexa also outshines Siri when it comes to smart home integration. With compatibility for over 140,000 devices, Alexa offers expansive control over smart home environments, making it the top choice for users interested in home automation. In comparison, Siri remains limited, with compatibility restricted to around 600 HomeKit-compatible devices. This disparity highlights Apple’s cautious approach, which continues to limit its AI ecosystem to those invested solely in Apple’s hardware.

Moreover, privacy is where Siri excels, adhering to Apple’s focus on user data security. This is a marked contrast from Google Assistant and Alexa, which are known to collect more data to enhance their user services. While privacy-focused users may appreciate this, the overall limited functionality makes Siri feel less capable than its more adaptable and versatile competitors.

Incremental Improvements vs. Major Transformations

Microsoft and Google aren’t just improving—they’re reshaping how we work. Microsoft’s Copilot provides deep integration and customization across its products. Google’s Gemini is pushing the boundaries with AI tools that change how people interact with tech. Meanwhile, Apple’s updates—like enhanced proofreading or visual AI tools—are nice but don’t dramatically change the overall user experience.

Conclusion: Apple Needs a Game-Changing AI Approach in 2024 to Compete with Microsoft and Google

But starting to take AI seriously doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ready to lead the charge. It’s just not enough. With Microsoft and Google pushing new limits in productivity, automation, and creativity, Apple’s cautious, hardware-dependent rollout isn’t keeping pace. To truly compete, they need to think bigger—beyond the small steps they’re taking—and aim for the kind of broad, transformative integration that their rivals are embracing.

To truly compete, Apple must innovate beyond its current AI features and aim for an expansive, integrated approach—just like Microsoft’s Copilot and Google’s Gemini AI. For now, Apple has some serious work to do if they want to stay competitive as the AI race heats up.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Apple’s AI Rollout and Competitors

1. What are the main AI features introduced in iOS 18.1 and 18.2?

Apple introduced AI-assisted writing tools in Notes and Mail, as well as enhanced image recognition capabilities. Siri has also been improved for better contextual understanding and daily task management. Visual tools like Image Playground and Genomoji were also included in the iOS 18.2 beta.

2. How does Apple AI in iOS 18.2 compare to Microsoft Copilot?

While Apple’s AI updates are useful, they are relatively conservative. Microsoft Copilot, on the other hand, is deeply integrated into its productivity tools like Word, Excel, and Teams, offering a more transformative experience with features like custom AI agents and seamless integration across all Microsoft 365 apps.

3. What is Microsoft Copilot Studio, and how does it differ from Apple Intelligence?

Copilot Studio allows businesses to create custom AI agents to automate specific tasks, offering a tailored solution for diverse business needs. Apple Intelligence does not currently offer this level of customization, which limits its potential for specialized use.

4. How does Apple AI in iOS 18.2 compare to Google’s Gemini?

Google’s Gemini provides advanced features such as hands-free, conversational AI capabilities, and extensive integration across Google Workspace tools. It also includes tools for creative content generation, such as text-to-image capabilities, making it more versatile compared to Apple’s offerings.

5. Why is Apple AI in iOS 18.2 limited to newer devices?

Apple has tied its latest AI features to newer hardware, like the iPhone 15 Pro, to ensure the performance and capabilities required to run these advanced features. However, this limits the accessibility of AI to only users who have the latest hardware, whereas Microsoft and Google have worked to ensure that their AI features reach as wide an audience as possible.

6. What is Google’s Project Jarvis and how does it compare to Apple AI in iOS 18.2?

Google’s Project Jarvis is an initiative designed to automate web-based tasks, such as purchasing products and booking flights, within the Chrome browser. This level of agent-like functionality allows users to complete tasks with minimal manual effort, providing a hands-free experience that is more advanced than Apple’s current offerings.

7. How is Microsoft leveraging Azure for AI capabilities?

Microsoft integrates AI into its Azure cloud platform through Azure Copilot, allowing AI to manage cloud infrastructure and software applications. It also enables Business Chat, which helps gather relevant data from multiple sources to provide insights that can inform decision-making, making Microsoft’s AI capabilities far-reaching.

8. What are the creative tools provided by Google Gemini?

Google Gemini offers tools like text-to-image generation, enabling users to create visual content from simple prompts. This is useful for both personal and professional purposes, and enhances creative productivity in a way that Apple’s AI has yet to match.

9. Is Apple’s AI strategy for iOS 18.2 likely to change in the future?

It’s possible. Given the competition from Microsoft and Google, Apple may need to adopt a more expansive approach to AI integration—focusing not just on incremental feature updates but on transforming how users interact with their devices. Apple’s current strategy seems more hardware-focused, which may need to shift if it intends to stay competitive in the AI space.

10. What makes Microsoft’s and Google’s AI offerings transformative?

Microsoft’s Copilot offers deep integration across productivity tools, advanced customization, and the ability to automate business processes, which changes how work is done at an organizational level. Google’s Gemini enhances user experience through conversational AI, creative tools, and advanced task automation, making their approaches transformative. Apple’s features, while helpful, remain largely incremental and lack the same level of comprehensive integration.