Why Apple Could Dominate the On-Device AI
The on-device AI market (including Apple) is expected to hit $36.6 billion by 2030
In 2024, Apple introduced a powerful new AI system called Apple Intelligence, bringing advanced artificial intelligence right to your iPhone.
And it works entirely on your device.
This means you don’t always need the internet to use smart features like writing help, improved Siri, or photo cleanup.
What Is Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence is Apple’s main AI system that runs directly on your iPhone. It helps your phone understand text, generate images, improve Siri, and more, all while keeping your data private and fast.
Which iPhones Support It?
To use Apple Intelligence, you need one of the newer iPhones:
iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max
All iPhone 16 models (including iPhone 16e)
Minimum hardware needed:
8 GB RAM
A17 Pro chip or later
7 GB of storage space
How Does Apple Run AI On the Device?
Apple combines special hardware and smart software to run AI directly on your phone.
1. Neural Engine (The Brain for AI)
The A17 Pro and newer chips have a 16-core Neural Engine that can do 35 trillion operations every second.
This hardware is made specifically for machine learning and AI tasks.
2. Smart Model Setup (Big + Small Models)
Apple uses two types of AI models:
A 3-billion parameter model that runs fully on the iPhone for most tasks.
Bigger models that run in the Private Cloud Compute (Apple’s secure servers) for more complex jobs.
3. Unified Memory (Shared Brain Space)
In Apple chips, the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine share the same memory.
This makes it easier and faster for the phone to run large AI models without using extra resources.
MLX: Apple’s AI Framework for iPhone Developers
Apple also lets developers build and run custom AI models using MLX, a machine learning framework.
MLX on iPhone lets you:
Run large language models (like Phi, Llama, Mistral)
Do text generation, image editing, and even build your own AI apps
Use MLX Swift for easy iOS development
Works only on devices with A17 Pro or newer chips
Core ML: Apple’s Long-Time AI Tool
Core ML is Apple’s AI engine since 2017. It powers:
Image and sound recognition
Text and speech understanding
On-device processing with no internet needed
Works with models from TensorFlow, PyTorch, and ONNX
Privacy and Speed: The Big Benefits
Privacy
All processing happens on your phone
Your personal data never leaves your device
Apple can’t see or collect your AI activity
Performance
Zero delay for most tasks
Works without internet
Instant results in real-time for things like camera filters, voice commands, and smart typing
Final Thoughts
Apple’s on-device AI is more than just a buzzword, it’s a real shift in how your phone becomes smarter without sending your data to the cloud.
With the right hardware and software, your iPhone becomes a personal AI assistant that respects your privacy and works even when offline.
Whether you’re a user or a developer, Apple is clearly investing in a future where powerful AI is not just smart, it’s private, fast, and personal.