Apple’s AI-powered feature set, Apple Intelligence, may face an uphill battle in winning over users. A recent survey conducted between November 28 and December 6, 2024, revealed that a majority of iPhone users found little value in the tools currently offered under this initiative.
The survey, involving over 2,000 U.S. smartphone owners, included Apple and Samsung users with devices capable of supporting AI. While Apple introduced Apple Intelligence as a flagship feature of iOS 18, its early reception has been lukewarm.
Consumers Find AI Tools Unimpressive
When asked about the value of Apple Intelligence, 73% of iPhone users stated the tools added “little to no value” to their experience. Only 11.1% found the features “very valuable,” while 15.9% considered them “somewhat valuable.”
Samsung users reported similar sentiments, with 87% dismissing the value of Galaxy AI tools. This suggests broader consumer skepticism about AI’s role in smartphones at this stage.
Timing May Have Skewed Results
One key issue with the survey was its timing. The study ended just days before Apple rolled out iOS 18.2, which included major updates like Visual Intelligence, Image Playground, and Genmoji. Without these features available, respondents could only evaluate earlier tools, such as Siri product knowledge and Writing Tools. Analysts suggest that conducting the survey post-update could have yielded different results.
AI in Smartphones: A Work in Progress
Apple Intelligence remains a relatively new feature, and its long-term success will depend on user adoption and feature development. The survey highlighted that 72% of respondents had tried Writing Tools, while only 3.1% explored Siri’s enhanced capabilities.
Despite the lukewarm reception, Apple is likely to refine its offerings as AI evolves. For now, these results serve as a reminder of the challenges tech companies face in making AI tools indispensable to everyday users.
