The AI ​​update cycle is here

The new Apple Intelligence features coming to iOS 18 could be the most impressive integrations of AI software and consumer hardware yet. Apple’s AI tools will be able to take actions based on what they know about you, manage your notifications and rewrite texts. They’re the kind of thing that can greatly improve the daily use of your iPhone. But they won’t be available unless you have one of Apple’s newer, more expensive iPhone models.

AI has quickly become the latest entry in the technology industry’s never-ending desire to drive an upgrade cycle. A few years ago, all smartphone manufacturers bet on 5G; More than a decade ago, the TV industry pushed for 3D TVs. Right now, every technology company clearly sees an opportunity with AI, and as a result, they are adding confined AI capabilities to their latest and greatest devices. But like the race to 5G, the mad dash toward AI is happening quickly and before the technology proves useful and its problems are solved.

To use Apple Intelligence on an iPhone, you need to have an iPhone 15 Pro (starting at $999) or an iPhone 15 Pro Max (starting at $1,199). This is likely a disappointment for iPhone 15 and 15 Plus users, who have phones that aren’t even a year old. iPad and Mac users have better luck: You’ll need to run one of these devices with an M1 chip or newer to experience Apple Intelligence, for any device from recent years to work. (M-series chips, of course, were another reason Apple encouraged to upgrade its equipment.)

Apple isn’t necessarily playing tricks here, as there is a real need for improved hardware to run advanced AI systems. AI processing is demanding. And Apple isn’t the only tech company targeting some of its best new AI software features toward specific hardware. Only new Copilot Plus PCs from Microsoft and others will support some AI features in Windows, like the (controversial) Recall. Google initially said its Gemini Nano model would only be available on the Pixel 8 Pro, even though the regular Pixel 8 has the same Tensor G3 chipset.

On the other hand, it’s unclear how firm these hardware limitations are. Apple hasn’t said exactly why older iPhones can’t use Apple Intelligence. Many AI capabilities are on-premises, but more advanced queries are often moved to the cloud. And given that Google recently said that the Pixel 8 will indeed be able to run the Gemini Nano, the limitations may not be as simple as tech companies make it seem. Apple did not respond to a request for comment about the hardware restrictions.

As an iPhone 12 Mini superfan, this potential upgrade effort is a huge bummer. Since its launch in 2020, the little phone has remained pretty much perfect for me, even with its lackluster battery. I haven’t had any significant reason to update my phone for years, saving a lot of money and still being able to use the vast majority of new features included in iOS updates.

I expected to hold onto my Mini phone until it broke. But if these Apple Intelligence features actually work, I could end up getting a new iPhone much sooner than I expected.

To be fair, you don’t need to upgrade your devices just because of some new AI features. iOS 18 will be available for all iPhones running iOS 17 – devices dating back to 2018’s iPhone XR and XS – which means many people will still get features like improved home screen customization, useful new messaging tools (tapbacks with any emoji!) and the Passwords app. And of course you can continue using your current Windows machine and Pixel phones if they’re serving you well.

But you can be sure that Apple, Microsoft, Google, and others will continue to pack their operating systems with new AI features that require better hardware. Clearly they think (or maybe just hope) that the features will be attractive enough to make an upgrade much more attractive, even if you don’t really I need it.