A new analysis proposes that Apple’s implementation of AI features lacks the company’s signature user-friendly design approach. In a detailed review for Macworld, tech journalist Jason Snell points out that while Apple is working to catch up in AI capabilities, the main issue lies in how these features are presented to users. The article highlights that most AI interfaces rely on basic text boxes, marking a return to pre-1984 command-line interfaces that Apple once helped eliminate.
According to Snell, Apple’s Image Playground stands out as a rare positive example, offering a proper visual interface with clear options and styles. However, other features like Writing Tools appear hastily implemented, lacking integration with existing text tools and proper user interface considerations.
The review criticizes Apple’s approach to notification management, where the company chose to implement an AI summarization feature instead of addressing the underlying interface design challenges. This decision reflects a rushed strategy to add AI features wherever possible, rather than solving actual user problems.
Snell argues that Apple’s success in AI will depend less on having the most advanced language models and more on making these features intuitive and pleasant to use. The current implementation suggests that Apple’s designers had limited time to create proper interfaces for the AI features introduced in macOS 15 and iOS 18.