At WWDC, Apple revealed its next-generation Apple Intelligence platform with a new Siri AI assistant. However, the company's most sophisticated on-device AI model comes with unexpectedly restrictive hardware requirements that exclude several current devices.

To run the most powerful on-device AI features, users need specific hardware: iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone Air, iPad models with M4 chip and 12GB memory, or Mac models with M3 chip and 12GB memory. This marks a significant jump from the previous 8GB minimum requirement, effectively locking out the base iPhone 17 which only contains 8GB of RAM.

The hardware gatekeeping suggests Apple's latest AI demands substantial on-device processing power that older chips cannot handle efficiently. Users with unsupported devices will still access many AI features through Private Cloud Compute, though these cloud-based versions will perform noticeably slower than native implementations.

This segmentation strategy lets Apple push advanced capabilities while maintaining compatibility across its ecosystem. However, it also creates a clear divide between premium and standard hardware tiers, potentially driving upgrades among users seeking the best AI experience.