Apple is expected to announce the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air models on Tuesday, May 7th. According to a scoop from noted technology reporter and Apple watcher Mark Gurman, the new Pro tablet could be Apple's first AI-enabled device. Garman hinted in Sunday's Bloomberg Power On column that there is a “strong possibility” that the chip in the new iPad Pro lineup will be an M4 chip rather than an M3 chip.
What's so special about the M4?
Apple's latest chips could include a new neural engine focused on AI capabilities. Earlier this month, Garman said that Apple plans to upgrade his entire line of Macs to his M4, and claimed that the company would launch his three versions of this chip. There's an entry-level version called Donan, an intermediate version called Brava, and the code name for the top-end version is He Hydra. All three versions feature AI processing skills that surpass what Apple's current M3 chip offers.
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In the competitive AI space, Apple has been slow to integrate AI into its core products and services, falling behind Microsoft, Google, and other tech companies. At the same time, iPad sales are also declining. Apple's iPad sales for the first fiscal quarter ending December 2023 were about $7 billion, down from $9.4 billion in the same period last year. One reason for this economic downturn may be that Apple will not release a new iPad model in 2023. Upgrades, especially those designed to take advantage of AI, have been long overdue.
What AI features can iPad Pro offer?
That depends not only on the device itself, but also on the new features coming with iPadOS 18. iPadOS 18 is expected to be announced by Apple at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference, which starts on June 10th. The company is reportedly working on developing its own AI technology to be added to the next generation of his iPhone, iPad, and other products. According to reports, Apple is also in talks with Google and OpenAI about integrating its generative AI technology into its products and services.
Some of the excitement about AI may be based less on its actual capabilities and more on how Apple promotes the iPad Pro's AI skillset. Garman said the new products “will not be designed and developed entirely around AI,” and that part of the new strategy will be based on marketing. To capitalize on the AI boom, Apple is likely to promote the new iPad Pro as the company's first AI-powered device, and each new product from then on as its AI-powered device.
An AI-enabled iPad isn't the only development that could arrive on May 7th. Garman said the new Apple Pencil 3 offers haptic feedback for the first time. This means that the pencil will vibrate or buzz depending on how you use it and the type of pressure you apply. Certain gestures also allow you to perform certain tasks by squeezing your device. Other rumors say the new pencil will cost $130, support Apple's Find My service, and come with a replaceable magnetic tip.
