Apple Intelligence preview shows it makes a lot of stuff up

Apple Intelligence previewed at the iPhone 16 event; the AI showcases promise but demonstrates multiple errors and hallucinations during initial tests.

: Apple Intelligence, revealed during the iPhone 16 event, aims to boost iPhone performance with advanced AI features. Geoffrey A. Fowler's test of the software showed it often produces inaccurate or humorous results. Among the errors were incorrect email summaries and misinterpretations of notifications. The AI will be available in beta with iOS 18.1 and other OS updates next month.

Apple Intelligence, introduced at the iPhone 16 reveal event, is positioned as a significant advancement for Apple's AI capabilities, potentially revitalizing iPhone sales. Tim Cook described it as the 'beginning of an exciting new era,' but early tests by Geoffrey A. Fowler of The Washington Post indicate several noteworthy issues, particularly with hallucinations common to generative AI.

Fowler praised some functionalities like natural language search for photos and image editing but highlighted various errors. These mistakes ranged from absurd video doorbell notifications to an instance where the AI mistakenly altered his appearance by making him look bald in a photo edit request.

Apple Intelligence also struggled with context in email and social media notifications, such as confusing a log-in confirmation with a password change request. Despite these issues, Apple asserts that this preview version is not indicative of the final product, as additional features and improvements are expected in the coming months, starting with the beta release alongside iOS 18.1.