Technology

Why People Don’t Like Apple Intelligence

By News Update

Apple has long been celebrated as a pioneer in technology, with a reputation for delivering innovative products that captivate millions. From the sleek design of the iPhone to the intuitive functionality of macOS, Apple’s ability to create groundbreaking devices has set it apart in the tech world. However, its foray into artificial intelligence (AI), branded as Apple Intelligence, seems to have hit a roadblock with users.

Despite significant investments and strategic efforts, the majority of iPhone users remain unimpressed by these features. A recent survey by SellCell, a tech trade-in platform, sheds light on the reasons behind this dissatisfaction, revealing a broader disconnect between Apple’s AI ambitions and user expectations.

Apple Intelligence was introduced with much fanfare in October 2024 alongside iOS 18.1. The features included Writing Tools for text editing, Notification Summaries that condense multiple notifications into one, and various others aimed at enhancing usability. However, the survey—conducted with over 2,000 participants in the United States—paints a less enthusiastic picture.

Despite the potential of these tools to simplify daily tasks, users have found them lacking in both utility and appeal. For many, the features seem to offer solutions to problems they never had, leaving them unconvinced of their value.

The survey revealed that only 47.6% of iPhone users consider AI an important factor when purchasing a smartphone. This statistic, while nearly half, still indicates that the majority of users do not prioritize AI when choosing their next device. Samsung users were even less enthusiastic, with only 23.7% expressing interest in AI as a deciding factor.

What makes the Apple scenario particularly concerning is that even among those who do value AI, satisfaction levels are alarmingly low. Nearly 73% of Apple Intelligence users reported that the features added little to no value to their smartphone experience. These figures highlight a significant gap between what Apple believes its users need and what they actually want.

Among the various tools offered by Apple Intelligence, Writing Tools emerged as the most widely used, with 72% of respondents trying the feature. While it does assist with text editing and summarization, many users found it to be far from indispensable. Similarly, Notification Summaries, designed to organize incoming notifications into a single, coherent view, were used by 54% of participants. Yet, the general sentiment was that these features did not significantly enhance the overall smartphone experience.

Features like Priority Messages and Clean Up in Photos fared even worse, with adoption rates of 44.5% and 29.1%, respectively. Tools such as Smart Reply in Mail and natural language search in Photos saw even lower engagement, with fewer than 15% of users bothering to try them.

One of the main reasons behind this lack of interest is the perception that these features are not particularly innovative or necessary. Users often feel that Apple Intelligence is trying to solve problems that they never encountered, leading to a sense of redundancy.

For instance, while Smart Reply offers quick, automated responses to messages, many users prefer crafting their replies manually, valuing the personal touch over automation. Similarly, tools like Clean Up in Photos, which aim to declutter photo libraries, are seen as unnecessary by those who already manage their galleries effectively.

Another critical issue is the adoption rate of iOS 18.1 itself. Despite the introduction of Apple Intelligence features, 57.6% of users surveyed admitted that they had not updated their devices to this version. The reasons ranged from a general reluctance to update to concerns about compatibility, accuracy, and privacy.

Some users were wary of how much data the AI features might require and whether this would compromise their personal information. These hesitations reflect broader apprehensions about AI technology, which extend beyond Apple’s ecosystem.

Brand loyalty, once one of Apple’s strongest assets, has been steadily declining. The survey revealed that 16.8% of iPhone users are considering switching to Samsung if the latter’s AI features prove to be significantly better. This marks a noticeable drop in loyalty, with only 78.9% of respondents identifying as firmly committed to the Apple ecosystem, down from 92% in 2021.

In contrast, Samsung users appeared less willing to make a similar switch, with just 9.7% expressing interest in moving to Apple for better AI features. This shift highlights Apple’s growing challenge in retaining its user base as competitors continue to innovate.

A significant deterrent for many users is the cost associated with AI services. According to the survey, only 11.6% of Apple users would consider paying for AI features, compared to an even smaller 4% of Samsung users.

This suggests that while users may find AI interesting in theory, they are not willing to invest extra money in services they perceive as marginally useful at best. This unwillingness to pay further diminishes the perceived value of Apple Intelligence, making it even harder for the company to justify its development efforts.

Despite these challenges, Apple is not giving up on AI. The release of iOS 18.2 introduced new features like Genmoji and ChatGPT integration, to offer more personalized and interactive experiences. Whether these updates will change user perceptions remains to be seen.

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