iPhone Users Say Apple’s AI Features Fall Short

A recent survey has highlighted a surprising disconnect between iPhone users’ enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) and their disappointment with the current state of Apple’s AI-driven features. Conducted by tech trade-in site SellCell, the study suggests that while iPhone users care about AI capabilities, the Apple Intelligence features they’ve seen so far haven’t delivered much value.

iPhone Users Value AI More Than Samsung Owners

The survey revealed that iPhone users prioritize AI features more than their Samsung counterparts when choosing a smartphone. Nearly half (47.6%) of iPhone users considered AI features “very” or “somewhat” important in their decision-making process, compared to just 23.7% of Samsung users. This underscores a higher interest in mobile AI among iPhone owners.

However, the enthusiasm for AI doesn’t necessarily mean satisfaction with its current implementation.

Disappointment in Existing AI Features Across the Board

Despite the interest, Apple’s AI offerings under its “Apple Intelligence” branding seem to be missing the mark. A staggering 73% of surveyed Apple Intelligence users said the features “add little to no value” or are “not very valuable.” Samsung’s AI features fared even worse, with 87% of Galaxy users expressing dissatisfaction.

The survey also ranked the most popular Apple Intelligence features introduced before iOS 18.2, revealing that even the top-rated tools haven’t resonated strongly:

• Writing Tools: 72% of users appreciated this feature.
• Notification Summaries: 54% found value in it.
• Priority Messages: 44.5% ranked it as useful.
• Clean Up in Photos: Only 29.1% were impressed.
• Smart Reply in Mail and Messages: A meager 20.9% saw the value.

These numbers suggest that while users are aware of AI’s potential, Apple Intelligence has yet to deliver compelling, must-have features.

Will iOS 18.2 Turn the Tide?

The survey was conducted before the release of iOS 18.2, which introduced two major AI-powered features: Genmoji and ChatGPT integration. These additions could shift user perceptions, but it’s too early to tell whether they’ll live up to the hype.

Genmoji: AI Meets Emoji

Genmoji lets users create custom emojis instantly. By tapping a glowing smiley icon in the emoji keyboard, iPhone owners can describe the emoji they want, and the AI generates it on the spot. This playful feature is designed to appeal to a wide audience, blending creativity with the convenience of AI.

ChatGPT Integration: A Smarter Siri?

The much-anticipated ChatGPT integration offers users a new way to interact with Apple’s AI ecosystem. Siri can now direct specific queries to ChatGPT when prefixed with the command “Ask ChatGPT,” leveraging the conversational power of OpenAI’s model for more complex or nuanced questions. While Apple positions this as complementary to Siri, the feature might help bridge gaps in user satisfaction by delivering more advanced and accurate responses.

The Road Ahead for Apple Intelligence

For Apple, the challenge lies in demonstrating the practical, everyday value of its AI innovations. While flashy features like Genmoji and advanced tools like ChatGPT integration may attract attention, they’ll need to provide tangible benefits to resonate with users in the long term.

The survey data serves as a clear message to Apple and other smartphone manufacturers: AI can be a key differentiator, but only if it genuinely enhances the user experience. Whether Apple Intelligence can rise to the occasion remains to be seen, but iOS 18.2 is an important step in its evolution.