Our columnist reviews the first wave of AI features coming to iPhones with iOS 18.1, and asks Apple’s software chief why so much is still missing.

A new report suggests Apple could be as much as two years behind companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic in artificial intelligence. It argues that while Apple is making gains with Apple Intelligence, it hasn’t reached the capabilities of the leading AI labs.

It is the same when it comes to AI. People will resist being rushed at breakneck speed to an uncertain future led by unaccountable billionaire’s making nebulous “commitments” to some undefined “responsible” AI. They want the tech to also deliver trust.

CEO Tim Cook doesn’t seem to be too worried about the iPhone maker’s late start on artificial intelligence. “Not first, but best,” Cook — and other executives — told the Wall Street Journal about Apple’s AI strategy in an interview published Sunday.

Apple reportedly conducted internal studies showing Apple Intelligence is two years behind ChatGPT, but that may not matter.