We're just a few days away from Apple's event where it will unveil several new iPads. The rumors were very consistent. Two new OLED iPad Pro tablets in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes and the refreshed 11-inch iPad Air 6 will join the all-new 12.9-inch version. And as May 7th gets closer, the rumors continue.
According to the latest rumors, Apple's May 7 event won't come and go without mentioning the latest buzzword of the year. We've heard so much about Apple's plans for AI that it's hard to know where fact ends and fiction begins. However, a report from CNBC appears to fall into the latter camp, albeit more by accident than the result of malice.
CNBC said Apple CEO Tim Cook plans to showcase upcoming AI iPhone, iPad and Mac features at next week's iPad event. But that doesn't seem right. And it shouldn't be done that way. Apple should leave May 7 to the hardware. With WWDC just around the corner, there's plenty of time to catch up on software news. And that's where the fun of AI should really begin.
There's no AI for you yet…
The original CNBC report originally explained that Cook had a lot to announce next week. “Cook also said Apple has ‘big plans to announce’ from an ‘AI perspective’ at next week’s iPad event and the company’s annual developer conference in June.” However, 9to5Mac noted that CNBC's understanding was problematic.
result? Cook never said he was ready to release the new iOS 18 AI features on May 7th. This is actually good news. It would never make sense for Apple to mention something that has virtually nothing to do with its debut product. The AI upgrade isn't scheduled to launch until September at the earliest, so why tease it next week? Instead, Apple would be much better served by using the time to explain to customers why its new tablet and new Apple Pencil 3 are so impressive. And ultimately, why they should hurry and buy one.
One potential problem here is Bloomberg's Mark Gurman's suggestion that the new OLED iPad Pro could use the M4 chip instead of the M3 we were expecting. There are suspicions that M4 will include components specifically designed to enhance and accelerate AI capabilities, which likely won't be operational until September at best.
It's most likely that Apple will briefly mention these innovations (if the M4 actually launches next week) and move on. Then, when iPadOS 18 is announced on June 10, it may come as a surprise that all new iPad owners can expect improved performance thanks to the shiny new silicon.
May 7th will be a big day, regardless of whether AI is announced or not. Apple hasn't updated the iPad in the past year, and this new OLED iPad Pro looks to be a notable upgrade, M4 or not. And for those who want a larger tablet without paying for an iPad Pro, the 12.9-inch iPad Air seems like the perfect choice.
Now we will wait. May 7 cannot come soon enough.