Salesforce, which offers cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) software, is eyeing a new pricing model that would require customers to pay per AI chat every time Salesforce’s AI-based services are used for a conversation, According to The Register.

Speaking to investors, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has said that his goal is for the company to introduce 1 billion AI agents into the user environment through the Agentforce AI platform by the end of fiscal year 2026. And thinks the price per call will be around $2.

The pricing model is designed to reflect the value Salesforce believes its AI services offer and to give customers greater flexibility.

Apple isn’t paying OpenAI to carry support for the generativeAI (genAI) firm’s Chat GPT within Apple Intelligence, but it might instead invest in the Microsoft-backed company.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is in talks to take part in a new funding round for OpenAI. If it follows suit, it will join Microsoft, Nvidia, and Thrive Capital in making an investment in the company, which would have a value of more than $100 billion.

A growing sense of union?

Such an investment would strengthen Apple’s existing partnership with OpenAI, announced at WWDC with the news that Apple Intelligence will integrate with ChatGPT, which will provide services Apple does not. 

The relationship meant Apple Fellow Phil Schiller briefly (almost) joined Microsoft on the OpenAI board, though in the end both Cupertino and Redmond stepped down from those seats.

Microsoft has allegedly invested $13 billion to acquire a 49% stake in OpenAI since 2019 and uses ChatGPT within its Copilot software. ChatGPT itself now has more than 200 million weekly users, a number that’s expected to swell once Apple ships iOS 18 this fall.

Apple is smart about intelligence

Word of Apple’s potential investment comes as the company prepares to introduce its next iPhone and new operating systems on Sept. 9. 

iOS 18 is expected to deliver Apple Intelligence (beta) support to US English users a few weeks after the iPhone launch, with Apple introducing additional AI features over time. With Apple Intelligence, Apple’s partnership means users can access ChatGPT from its devices, with the added security of no user requests or IP addresses being stored. 

(It is interesting that OpenAI chose to release its ChatGPT desktop app first on Macs shortly after the iOS integration was announced.)

That compromise between utility and privacy will protect average users, while for business users Apple will introduce MDM support that lets access to such features be disabled on managed devices; that’s something many in IT felt necessary in some data protection scenarios. 

Talking heads…

Reaction to Apple’s potential investment is interesting. Bank of America pointed out that, “a large direct investment by Apple into OpenAI could raise concerns on a potential AI partnership as a long-term alternative to Google search.”

The bigger picture is even more interesting. Apple Intelligence will be made available across all Apple’s big computing platforms: iPhones, including iPhone 15 and iPhone 16, and also M-series iPads and Macs. This wide array of supporting devices means the feature will be available to tens of millions of systems from day one, which also means ChatGPT will be natively supported on them.

This has led to a series of highly positive predictions from analysts. Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives predicts a historic AI-driven iPhone upgrade cycle, arguing that 25% of the world (based on his estimates) will be engaged in AI requests using Apple devices.

Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring also sees Apple Intelligence unleashing pent-up demand and estimated the potential upgrade market is around 40% larger than it was prior to the last hugely successful iPhone release, when 5G was added to the system. This also follows some relative weakness in recent iPhone sales as consumers await the new AI phone. 

Will it still be US-only?

Of course, one wildcard to these events is availability.

At present, Apple Intelligence is limited to the US, or to users outside the US willing to set their devices to US English. That means iPhone shoppers outside the US will not gain access to this integrated AI, which will limit the upgrade frenzy. Apple may already have a plan for this, perhaps extending the service to other English-speaking nations. 

However, the regulatory environment around these tools remains in flux, with new regulations emerging from nations worldwide; that state of uncertainty has already prompted Cupertino to announce it won’t ship these features into the EU until clarity over regulations is in place.

One more thing

The biggest takeaway remains this: Within a matter of weeks, Apple will be unique in offering a fully integrated AI experience across a range of platforms, from smartphones to computers and tablets. Serendipitously, these tools will be available at the same time Windows upgrades intensify, which allows Apple to work to switch PC users to its fully integrated, multi-device, multi-platform ecosystem.

It’s quite possible, if Apple gets this right, that its platforms could end up providing the privacy and security users and business need to fully exploit the potential of AI across every viable computing platform. With such a prize in sight, don’t be too surprised to see activity — and M&A — intensify in the coming months.

More from Jonny Evans

• Apple gives IT the power to switch off Apple Intelligence
• When was the last time a Mac caused a business disaster?
• What to expect at Apple’s Sept. 9 ‘Glowtime’ special event

Please follow me on LinkedIn, Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolic’s bar & grill group on MeWe.

Google’s Gemini AI model can once again be used to generate images that represent people, according to Ars Technica. The company had shut down the feature in February after it was criticized for creating historically inaccurate images often related to the subject’s skin color.

The now-updated Gemini 1.5 model should be able to avoid the earlier problems; Google says it also cannot generate images of photo-realistically identifiable individuals, such as famous people.

Google in a blog post Wednesday said it has also focused on improving both AI security and responsibility to ensure the technology is used in an ethical way.

Apple has introduced new tools mobile device management (MDM) vendors can use to give IT the power to restrict Apple Intelligence across their fleets. 

Understanding the significance of the on-going AI with everything war, Apple device management vendor Addigy was fast out the gate to announce its support for the tools, which other MDM providers are likely to support, too. The new tools basically consist of a set of restrictions that can be deployed against managed devices to prevent the use of Apple Intelligence features. 

What Apple Intelligence features can be controlled?

The AI features Apple has announced so far include Genmoji, Image Playground, Image Wand, iPhone Mirroring, and Writing Tools. The new controls allow MDM systems to offer admins console-based management tools to enable or disable their use on a managed device. The tools I’ve found include:

• allowGenmoji.
• allowImagePlayground.
• allowImageWand.
• allowiPhoneMirroring.
• allowPersonalizedHandwritingResults.
• allowVideoConferencingRemoteControl.
• allowWritingTools.

It is worth noting that only the Writing Tools within Apple Intelligence have been made available in beta so far, and Apple has always said some of its AI functions won’t be available until next year. The idea is that IT will be able to disable the features if they’re concerned about use of company data with AI.

Addigy acts fast

In announcing its support for the new restrictions, Addigy CEO Jason Dettbarn said: “While Apple Intelligence is an exciting development, many organizations are rightly concerned about potential impacts. Some don’t allow AI on devices. Others want to fully understand its implications before deciding when, or even whether, to enable it — and they don’t want to risk waiting until AI ships to try managing it.” 

Of course, as Apple Intelligence remains beta software, Addigy MDM is only available to organizations that are part of Apple’s AppleSeed for IT scheme, which lets users test upcoming Apple releases in unique work environments.

I expect other MDM vendors intend to include support for Apple’s restrictions in their own systems. (Some have begun such deployment in beta.)

Why does this matter?

The decision to enable MDM services to prevent the use of Apple Intelligence will be welcomed by enterprise users concerned their employees might inadvertently leak confidential or protected information while using the new AI service.

The release is also true to form. Apple’s commitment to privacy and security across all of its devices is more than skin deep; its extensive white paper explaining the Private Cloud Compute service is proof positive. 

But data privacy is a journey, and the best way to protect anyone’s data is not to have any of it in the first place — that’s Apple’s constant aim in everything it does, including AI. The company’s decision to use as little information as it can to make services work is a very smart one, as it minimizes the potential attack surface. Giving MDM the power to forbid any such use also protects devices and their data.

Save the world

We know the company is working to build AI models that run on device, rather than in the cloud. That’s a good thing, as it protects privacy. But the move to ensure small models run at relatively low power could also help reduce the overall energy consumption we’re seeing from the growing use of generative AI (genAI). That seems particularly important now that some estimates indicate ChatGPT is consuming as much energy to generate its responses as would be needed to power 21,602 US homes for a year. Apple’s environmental commitments mean it will take energy consumption generated by Apple Intelligence into account in its environmental reporting.

(I do note that the new tools don’t seem to constrain the use of ChatGPT from Apple Intelligence on a managed device, but I imagine there will be some protection in place by the time integrated access ships.)

It’s time for Apple in business

One final note: Apple has introduced MDM code to prevent the installation of apps downloaded from websites on managed devices. That’s good, as it means European firms won’t be forced to expose their data to the risk of accidental malware installation via apps found outside of legitimate app stores.

Finally, of course, Apple’s painstaking preparation for the mass market introduction of AI on its platforms should be seen as proof positive, as if it were required, that its ecosystem is secure by design and quite ready for business.

More from Jonny Evans

• When was the last time a Mac caused a business disaster?
• What to expect at Apple’s Sept. 9 ‘Glowtime’ special event
• Jamf teams with Okta for enterprise-class simplicity the tyranny of ‘choice’

Please follow me on LinkedIn, Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolic’s bar & grill group on MeWe.

Generative AI capabilities — or at least the perceptions surrounding them — are rewriting almost all of IT. But with generative AI ROI proving elusive in IT circles, is AI truly going to impact near-term revenue? With mobile devices, analyst group IDC thinks it very well might.

“Premium markets are starting to embrace gen AI smartphones, generating excitement and renewed interest in the industry,” IDC said in a statement accompanying the latest edition of its Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker study.

This forecasts that Android phone sales will grow 7.1% in 2024, while sales of phones running iOS will stagnate, growing just 0.8%.

IDC forecast that generative AI-capable smartphones will capture 18% share of the total market by the end of 2024, with most flagship phones including some on-device generative AI features. However, the average selling price for smartphones with generative AI capabilities will be more than double the cost of those without, it said.

Adoption of AI-capable smartphones is of relevance for enterprises wishing either to deploy the technology internally, or push AI capable applications to customers.

“There is a potential upside to the iOS forecast with a lot depending on how well the demonstrated gen AI use cases play out in the upcoming iPhone 16 launch and how soon Apple can establish local AI partnerships in China,” IDC senior research director Nabila Popal said in the statement.

The use cases Popal is referring to involve Apple Intelligence, which is Apple’s attempt to deliver generative AI functionality on-device instead of via the cloud. Apple is discovering that such a delivery is complicated; the company’s September launch event for new mobile devices may focus more on what capabilities will materialize later rather than what can be delivered on launch day.  

If buyers are disappointed by the first generation’s weaker-than-hoped-for functionality, that might depress sales of second-generation products — even if the functionality with second-generation is far superior: The perception game can have a nasty boomerang effect.

Generative AI is not yet delivering growth for mobile but it is “creating excitement,” Popal told Computerworld.

She sees a key driver of generative AI in mobile being not the capabilities — at least not initially — as much as the perception of better data privacy.

That perception comes from the argument that much of the new data from device-resident AI will stay on the device and not move to the cloud.

“I don’t want all of my data to be on the cloud” given that the new gen AI functionality will be accessing so much personal information, she said. “It will be context aware, history aware, aware of my schedule” and aware of who the user is visiting and their planned visits.

The privacy reality, though, is that some — and potentially all — of that data may wind up in the cloud anyway given backup choices.

“Some data will still be stored on the cloud,” depending on user setting choices, Popal said. “That’s where the consumer consent comes in.”

The bulk of the potential excitement comes from the theoretical ability of on-device generative AI to break down the barriers between applications. Instead of the user looking up information from the larger number of installed apps, the device could answer the questions directly as it will interrogate the apps seamlessly in the background. 

The mobile model used to talk about “there’s an app for that,” Popal said, but as the number of apps soared, there was more of an effort burden placed on users. In theory, she argued, on-device AI could change that.

“Gen AI smartphones will completely change the way we interact with our phones,” she said. “Whether it’s processing a return, buying a ticket, booking a hotel or making sure it is the best deal, it will make human suggestions such as ‘If you change that date one more day, you’ll save $500.’” 

But — lest buyers get too excited already — such capabilities may take years to appear, as software vendors will need to adapt to new APIs as well as wait for their customers to buy AI-capable phones.

A new AI feature called ” Take notes for me ” will be soon be rolled out to Google Meet users. It’s a feature that creates automatic notes using Google’s AI ​​tool.

When the meeting is over, participants are given the opportunity to download a Google document with a transcrip of what was said. The function can also be used by meeting participants who entered the conversation late to find out what was said earlier.

Initially, “Take notes for me” will only work with conversations in English.

Meta has signed an agreement with Sage Geosystems to purchase up to 150 megawatts of geothermal energy to power its US data centers. The first phase of the project is expected to be operational in 2027, according to Reuters. And, according to Meta, it will significantly increase the use of geothermal energy in the United States.

Geothermal energy is renewable energy that uses the heat stored in the earth’s crust, which originates in the earth’s formation and decay of radioactive elements.

The new agreement is part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to meet the increasing demand for energy that has arisen with the company’s major investment in generative AI (genAI) technology, which is very energy-intensive. The financial terms of the agreement were not released.

Apple on Monday confirmed its next big public event will be Sept. 9, when it is expected to introduce the new iPhone 16 range, new Apple Watch models, and AirPods 4, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) hinted at by the event slogan, “It’s Glowtime.”

The event will be live-streamed as in past years across YouTube, Apple TV, Apple’s Developer app, and via the company website. The event begins at 10 a.m. PT/ 1 p.m. ET.

Why Glowtime?

When the company introduced Apple Intelligence at WWDC in June, it unveiled an all-new Siri behavior. While for now Siri shows itself to be working on a query by displaying a round pulsing shape on the screen, the new Siri simply glows around the edges of the device. Most Apple commentators believe this is the reference made in the invitation to the event.

That attention to AI is expected to be the big focus this year. Apple knows it has a chance to build the world’s biggest active AI ecosystem across all the devices that comprise its platforms. That’s a real opportunity for the company. But given that competitors are also racing in the same direction, Apple knows it must make a big impression with September news.

While not all of the new Apple Intelligence features are expected to be available when iOS 18 ships, we do anticipate more will arrive later in fall, when new Macs and iPads are also expected to arrive.

What to expect from iPhone 16 range?

As previously discussed, the iPhone 16 range will include the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. (Recent speculation has claimed a much thinner high-end model, and an entry level iPhone SE upgrade will debut next year.) All the new devices — including the latter — are expected to be capable of running Apple Intelligence, which otherwise requires an iPhone 15 or later.

Big changes in all the iPhones might include a new camera layout, Action and Capture buttons, along with a 5x telephoto zoom on the Pro range. The Pro devices will also get bigger, 6.3- and 6.9-in. displays and improved cameras; there is also talk of the Pro range gaining solid-state buttons, which will make them even more resilient and waterproof.

Apple might also put more memory into the iPhones to provide better support for Apple Intelligence, enabling more complex generative AI (genAI) features to take place on the device. Other tasks will run on Apple’s own secured servers, though users can choose third-party services such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT directly from their iPhone. New colors and a higher 2TB capacity option are also expected.

What’s important is that both the outgoing iPhone 15 range and incoming iPhone 16 models will immediately be the world’s first mass-market AI smartphones, equipped with powerful AI features to help get more work done. Not only that, but up to 25% of the iPhones shipped across the next 12 months might be made in India.

What to expect from the Apple Watch?

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 may once again be the most lusted-after smartwatch. While the internal components will change and the device should become much faster with a new processor, externally it will seem similar, reports claim. It might be available in more colors.

The Apple Watch Series 10 will see more obvious improvements; slimmer, it will also host a bigger display. It is notable that this will be the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch. Finally, the Apple Watch SE3 could be a lower-cost plastic model available in multiple colors and aimed at younger users, particularly as a way to keep in contact with kids in schools that ban use of smartphones. We could see new heath sensors introduced, but ongoing legal disputes might slow their introduction.

What about AirPods 4?

Though AirPods are not an enterprise product (yet), we know that wherever you have iPhones, you’ll often find AirPods. Now with USB-C charging, the new AirPods will become a range, with both lower-end and mid-range variants, leaving the AirPods Pro as the high-end choice. The AirPods 4 are expected to gain noise cancellation, which will be a great upgrade for many, particularly commuters, travellers, and workers seeking to focus at their desk.

What about iPads?

We’re not expecting iPad Pro news, though there is latespeculation Apple could introduce a new iPad mini and iPad model. These would be good upgrades, as they should host new chips, perhaps even the A17 processor used in the iPhone 15. Inclusion of new Apple processors is essential since the company will want to run Apple Intelligence on these devices.

While AI is the big marketing push, the inclusion of these new processors should make these entry-level iPads significantly more powerful than before. (The current 10^th generation iPad runs an A14 Bionic chip.)

There are implications for workplaces deploying iPads across their teams, as the upgraded devices will deliver much more bang per buck, (and computational cycles per watt).

What about Siri?

The Apple invitation’s reference to Siri hints that Apple will reveal even more AI features. That suggests the company hopes to make Siri a far more viable AI assistant than it is at present. Expect more personalization, smarter and more contextual intelligence, and predictive help. 

What about Europe?

Apple’s recent moves to tweak its approach to Europe’s DMA show the company has been in consultation with regulators there. While we can’t expect miracles, perhaps the company will be better able to explain its Apple Intelligence rollout plans for the region during the announcement.

More from Jonny Evans

• Jamf teams with Okta for enterprise-class simplicity
• How Apple can fight the tyranny of ‘choice’
• Microsoft Office apps circumvent Mac security

Please follow me on Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolic’s bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.