Apple is taking extra precautions with its upcoming iOS 18 update, reports tech analyst Mark Gurman at Bloomberg. This move comes after the company’s head of software engineering, Craig Federighi, decided to temporarily halt development to address quality concerns in initial versions.
Meeting Generative AI Competition
The significance of the iOS 18 update is heightened as Apple aims to compete with Google and OpenAI in generative AI. Gurman emphasizes that the update needs to be impressive because the iPhone 16 won’t have significant hardware advancements next year.
Apple is relying on the software to attract customers to the new models, hence the cautious approach and recent delay. This isn’t the first time Apple has taken such measures; a similar pause occurred in 2019 to address bugs and feature delays.
After reaching a key milestone in iOS 18 and macOS 15 development, Apple paused to focus on debugging, delaying the start of the next development phase.
The Development Timeline
Gurman mentions that Apple usually follows four milestones before the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. This pause in development, occurring after the first milestone, allows an extra week to address bugs but likely won’t significantly impact the ultimate release date.
The move underscores Apple’s commitment to quality. In 2019, Federighi implemented “The Pact,” emphasizing a quick fix for any identified issues. The pause indicates that Apple faced challenges in adhering to this policy during the development of iOS 18, macOS 15, and watchOS 11.
Looking ahead, Apple confronts a bigger challenge in its 2024 software, with the next iPhone and iPad software expected to be groundbreaking after years of smaller updates, Gurman added.
In his report, Mark Gurman at Bloomberg said:
Internally, Apple’s senior management has characterized its forthcoming operating systems as ‘ambitious and compelling,’ showcasing significant new features and designs, alongside enhancements in security and performance.