Apple’s latest artificial intelligence features for iOS 18.2 now require 7GB of device storage, raising concerns about storage management on iPhones and iPads with limited capacity.
Storage impact analysis: The new storage requirement represents a significant increase from the previous 4GB baseline needed for Apple Intelligence features.
- On 128GB iPhone models, Apple Intelligence now consumes 5.5% of total storage capacity, up from 3% previously
- iPad Air users with 64GB devices face an even greater impact, with AI features claiming 11% of available storage
- New AI capabilities driving the increased storage requirements include Genmoji, ChatGPT integration with Siri, and Image Playground
Technical implementation and user control: While users can disable AI features through device settings, the storage space remains allocated to the system.
- The storage allocation persists even when AI features are turned off, offering no method to reclaim the space
- Apple has not provided options for users to selectively remove individual AI components
- The mandatory storage requirement affects all compatible devices running iOS 18.2, regardless of user preference
User experience considerations: The expanded storage footprint particularly impacts users with base-model devices or those already managing limited storage.
- Users must choose between accessing new AI capabilities and maintaining free space for photos, apps, and other content
- The inability to opt-out of the storage requirement affects users who may not utilize AI features
- This implementation represents a departure from Apple’s typically flexible approach to feature adoption
Looking ahead: Storage vs. Innovation: The growing storage demands of AI features highlight tensions between advancing mobile technology and preserving user choice in resource allocation. As AI capabilities continue expanding, Apple faces pressure to balance innovation with practical device limitations, particularly for users with storage constraints or different feature priorities.
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...