Tech Friday: Why is Apple so far behind in bringing out AI?
Posted By RichC on January 9, 2026
Those of us using the Apple ecosystems have been a little bit frustrated as AI seems 
to be a bit slower in coming to our iPhones and devices than others. Competitors are leaping ahead when it comes to developing LLMs (Large Language Models) that most assume are the bedrock of developing artificial intelligence. Time and time again, we “hear” about Apple Intelligence rolling out in new products and software, yet are disappointed in how it functions along side competitors – perhaps they “think different” in Cupertino, California? 😉
Core Philosophy: Privacy, Efficiency, and Hardware Control
Apple prioritizes on-device processing for AI tasks whenever possible, using smaller, optimized models (often around 3 billion parameters) that run directly on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This enhances privacy (no data sent to the cloud), reduces latency, and works offline. For more demanding tasks, it falls back to a secure Private Cloud Compute system or partners (e.g., integrating ChatGPT).
Commodity View of LLMs
Recent reports (as of late 2025) indicate some Apple leaders view frontier LLMs as future commodities—not worth massive proprietary investment now. Instead, Apple focuses on excelling in hardware (Apple Silicon with Neural Engines), software integration, and ecosystem control to differentiate its AI features, branded as Apple Intelligence.
Key Differences from Industry Norms
- Smaller, specialized models — Apple’s on-device foundation model (~3B parameters) handles tasks like text summarization, notification prioritization, and in-app actions efficiently, using techniques like quantization and KV-cache sharing.
- Hybrid strategy — On-device for personal/sensitive tasks; cloud or third-party (e.g., OpenAI) for complex queries.
- Less emphasis on scale — While rivals chase trillion-parameter behemoths, Apple bets on efficient inference (e.g., via MLX framework) and privacy as advantages.
This deliberate, restrained strategy has drawn criticism for being “behind,” but it aligns with Apple’s historical pattern: entering markets later with polished, user-centric products. As of December 2025, it positions Apple uniquely in practical, everyday AI rather than raw power.
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