Apple Intelligence: How Apple’s AI for the Rest of Us Will Impact Special Education Personnel Preparation
Authors: Samantha Goldman; info@ciddl.org
In a much-awaited gathering, Apple announced how it is upgrading its devices to integrate further artificial intelligence, or Apple Intelligence (AI), as they call it. Apple devices have used natural language processors, a type of AI, for years to create Siri and their word prediction software. Unlock your phone with your face? That also uses AI. At this most recent event, though, they announced how they use generative AI to enhance their platforms. Apple is branding this upgrade as AI for the rest of us, making using the novel, albeit sometimes complex, AI features more user-friendly.
Key Upgrades
Apple’s announcement included discussions around how they will utilize generative AI to streamline email, enhance photo editing and searching, and improve users' writing. Users can summarize their emails, have quick reply suggestions, and have emails automatically prioritized. As for images, they have simplified image generation, limiting the field of options for personalization while helping to ensure that the image it creates is the image you want. Also exciting is that they have added the ability to search photos more precisely using words, making it much easier to find the pictures you may have taken with CIDDL members at past conferences! For example, searching for Dr. Sean Smith in a chef’s hat should bring up this photo. Apple’s additional Writing Tools improve the quality of emails and other tasks by providing options to change the tone (make it funny, scholarly, etc.), enhanced proofreading capabilities, and the ability to summarize. Siri is also getting an upgrade, with the ability to prompt her with voice or text and in a more natural and personal conversation. Most exciting, SIRI has on-screen awareness, meaning she can see what you see and act based on it. You can say, “Siri, play the latest CIDDL webinar from the newsletter,” and she should be able to do it.
Accessibility Upgrades
Back in May, Apple shared some exciting upgrades to its accessibility features that are particularly of interest for those of us in special education personnel preparation. First, they announced the ability to use eye tracking to control iPhones and iPads. Next, they shared that they will be integrating vibration into music. Also, they are adding the ability to control devices with switches. Apple's continued innovation in accessibility ensures a future where technology can be a bridge to learning for all individuals.
Implications for Special Education Personnel Preparation
This announcement has several implications for personnel preparation. It brings awareness to the indispensable role AI assumes in shaping the future. Integrating reading and writing supports within devices further exemplifies that these tools are universal supports rather than specialized modifications. The upgrades to Siri show promise to provide students with more individualized and personalized learning opportunities. It is important to teach future teachers how to leverage these tools. For instance, Alexa (and other voice assistants) can respond to AAC. The iPad also has a calculator featuring real-time graphing, budgeting tools, and dynamic updates that reflect changes to the original equation, which could be an invaluable tool for those who struggle with math.
Share Your Thoughts
While the Apple announcement excited many, others were less than impressed, expecting more of a radical transformation from the innovative company. What are your thoughts on the announcement? How might you integrate Apple Intelligence into your personnel preparation courses? Join the conversation in our community.