On the Cusp of Apple Intelligence’s Launch, Joanna Stern Interviews Craig Federighi

Apple's iOS 18.1 and MacOS 15.1 are set to release next week, featuring several useful features but no AI fireworks. The company is moving cautiously with AI, prioritizing privacy and responsibility over rushing out new tools. Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, explained that the company wants to ensure each piece is right before releasing it. The features shipping in the new updates include notification summaries, a clean-up tool for unwanted objects in Photos, and writing tools. These tools are designed for everyday use by non-technical users in the apps they already use. Apple is focusing on making these tools accessible and useful for a wide range of users. The company's approach to AI is different from others, who are rushing to release new AI tools, sometimes with controversy. Federighi denies that Apple is behind in the AI race, stating that they are prioritizing privacy and responsibility. The upcoming release will not include the more whiz-bang-y Apple Intelligence features shown off at the company's annual developers conference in June.