Apple Intelligence now requires 7 GB of free storage space instead of 4
Because of the latest generative AI features added, Apple Intelligence now requires at least seven gigabytes of free storage on your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
That’s almost double the number required when Apple Intelligence debuted in iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 in September 2024. Back then, Apple’s support page clarified that Apple Intelligence required four gigabytes of free storage.
Now, Apple doesn’t clarify why the storage requirement has increased, but it’s reasonable to speculate that it’s because of the second wave of AI features that arrived with iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 18.2.
The updates brought AI image generation via the new Image Playground app and the Image Wand feature in Notes. Other new capabilities include AI emoji creation, called Genmoji; ChatGPT integration with Siri and the systemwide writing tools; and Visual Intelligence, which uses ChatGPT and Google to recognize real-world objects in the camera viewfinder (similar to Google Lens).
Apple Intelligence now requires 7GB of free storage space
Most of these features fall under the generative AI umbrella, and generative AI demands much more computing power than the first wave of Apple Intelligence features. Extra storage is likely required for the additional models to support generative AI in iOS 18.2.
For privacy and responsiveness, Apple wants to run as many AI models on-device as possible. The models are stored locally, eatting up free storage space. To view how much storage space Apple Intelligence consumes on your device, choose the iOS option at the bottom of the Settings > General > iPhone Storage section.
The phased Apple Intelligence rollout will continue this year, with additional new features and expanded language support coming alongside iOS 18.3 and iOS 18.4. Among them are three Siri enhancements: onscreen awareness for better assistance, personal context understanding (the “When’s Mom’s flight landing?” feature), and app actions to perform complex tasks without manually opening apps.
Other Apple Intelligence requirements haven’t changed; to use Apple Intelligence, you still need an iPad powered by the M1 chip or newer, an Apple silicon Mac, or an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 model. Peruse our Apple Intelligence roundup for a list of all the features released so far.
Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2025/01/03/apple-intelligence-storage-requirement-increased-to-seven-gigabytes/
Leave a Reply