The focus of attention is on the anticipated big changes in the iOS 18 update as Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference draws near. With a focus on artificial intelligence and a plethora of new software features, WWDC, scheduled for June 2024, is anticipated to reveal a significant redesign of the iPhone OS.

Redesigns of several well-known built-in iPhone apps, such as Photos, Mail, Notes, and Fitness, are in store for iOS 18, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, who offers insights into Apple’s plans. The Calculator app, which has been waiting for an update, will now be available on the iPad and will have more features.

Considering the array of AI-driven improvements included in iOS 18, Gurman’s observations suggest that this update may be Apple’s most significant iPhone release to date. Among these are AI-powered writing assistance in Pages and Keynote, as well as automatically generated playlists on Apple Music. Apple is unique in that it runs AI tasks directly on the iPhone, eliminating the need for cloud servers, though the newest iPhone 16 models may be the only ones with some of the more advanced features.

Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, is also in line for a significant upgrade with AI advancements. Users can expect more natural conversations with Siri, enhanced Spotlight search, and improved Shortcuts automation. Apple’s approach to AI technology could involve its proprietary large language model or collaboration with other major players like Google or OpenAI.

A new method for personalizing the Home Screen is one of the most awaited features of iOS 18. App icons may soon be placed anywhere users choose, opening up more options for the iPhone’s layout, including blank areas and unique rows and columns. For individuals looking for a more customized smartphone experience, this might be a welcome modification.

The RCS messaging standard is another possible update in iOS 18, which will help iPhone and Android users communicate with each other. Higher-quality photo sharing, better group chats, and cross-platform read receipts are just a few of the enhanced features that RCS messaging provides.

Enhancements powered by AI may also be made to Apple’s Safari browser, possibly including the addition of a browsing assistant akin to features found in competing browsers. An updated version of the Calculator app will include improved unit conversion tools and a history bar for previous calculations. Both professionals and students may soon be able to use the Notes app, which will soon support complicated mathematical equations.

With new topographic maps featuring marked trails and elevation data, Apple Maps is about to get even better. For those who love the outdoors and hiking, this might be a big addition.

Finally, AirPods Pro may get a “hearing aid mode” in iOS 18, which might expand on the Conversation Boost function already in place. For CarPlay, Freeform, and other applications, more updates are anticipated. These specifics, though, are still speculative until Apple makes an official announcement at WWDC 2024.

On May 7 at 7:00 am PT or 7:30 pm Indian time, Apple’s “Let Loose” event is scheduled to take place. It is anticipated that the tech giant will reveal a number of significant updates during the event, such as the introduction of new OLED iPad Pro models and the first-ever 12.9-inch iPad Air model.

The newest M4 chipset, however, may power the upcoming iPad Pro lineup, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurnman, just one week before the event. This is in contrast to plans to release the newest chipset along with the iMacs, MacBook Pros, and Mac minis later this year. Notably, the M2 chipset powers the iPad Pro variants of the current generation. The introduction of the M4 chipset to the new Pro lineup iterations implies that Apple is doing away with the M3 chipset entirely for Pro variants.

In addition, a new neural engine in the M4 chipset is expected to unlock new AI capabilities, and the tablet could be positioned as the first truly AI-powered device. The news comes just days after another Gurnman report revealed that Apple was once again in talks with OpenAI to bring generative AI capabilities to the iPhone.

Apple’s iPad Pro Plans:

In addition to the newest M4 chipset, Apple is anticipated to introduce an OLED panel into the iPad Pro lineup for the first time. It is anticipated that the Cupertino, California-based company will release the iPad Pro in two sizes: 13.1-inch and 11-inch.

According to earlier reports, bezels on iPad Pro models from the previous generation could be reduced by 10% to 15% as a result of the switch from LCD to OLED panels. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the next iPad Pro models will be thinner by 0.9 and 1.5 mm, respectively.

The Schedule for Apple’s WWDC:

According to Gurnman, at the Let Loose event on May 7, Apple is probably going to introduce the new iPad Pro, iPad Air, Magic keyboard, and Apple Pencil. Though Apple is planning small hands-on events for select media members in the US, UK, and Asia, the upcoming event isn’t expected to be a big in-person affair like the WWDC or iPhone launch event. Instead, it is expected to be an online program.

With the confirmation of the release of an AI-based weather forecasting model that can anticipate subtle changes in the weather, Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) is taking a bigger step into the field of artificial intelligence (AI).

Known as the Scalable Ensemble Envelope Diffusion Sampler (SEEDS), Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) model is remarkably similar to other diffusion models and popular large language models (LLMs).

In a paper published in Science Advances, it is stated that SEEDS is capable of producing ensembles of weather forecasts at a scale that surpasses that of conventional forecasting systems. The artificial intelligence system uses probabilistic diffusion models, which are similar to image and video generators like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion.

The announcement said, “We present SEEDS, [a] new AI technology to accelerate and improve weather forecasts using diffusion models.” “Using SEEDS, the computational cost of creating ensemble forecasts and improving the characterization of uncommon or extreme weather events can be significantly reduced.”

Google’s cutting-edge denoising diffusion probabilistic models, which enable it to produce accurate weather forecasts, set SEEDS apart. According to the research paper, SEEDS can generate a large pool of predictions with just one forecast from a reliable numerical weather prediction system.

When compared to weather prediction systems based on physics, SEEDS predictions show better results based on metrics such as root-mean-square error (RMSE), rank histogram, and continuous ranked probability score (CRPS).

In addition to producing better results, the report characterizes the computational cost of the model as “negligible,” meaning it cannot be compared to traditional models. According to Google Research, SEEDS offers the benefits of scalability while covering extreme events like heat waves better than its competitors.

The report stated, “Specifically, by providing samples of weather states exceeding a given threshold for any user-defined diagnostic, our highly scalable generative approach enables the creation of very large ensembles that can characterize very rare events.”

Using Technology to Protect the Environment

Many environmentalists have turned to artificial intelligence (AI) since it became widely available to further their efforts to save the environment. AI models are being used by researchers at Johns Hopkins and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to forecast weather patterns in an effort to mitigate the effects of pollution.

With its meteorological department eager to use cutting-edge technologies to forecast weather events like flash floods and droughts, India is likewise traveling down the same route. Equipped with cutting-edge advancements, Australia-based nonprofit ClimateForce, in collaboration with NTT Group, says it will employ artificial intelligence (AI) to protect the Daintree rainforest’s ecological equilibrium.