Apple Intelligence in Germany: Details on geoblocking, storage requirements
The space requirement of the otherwise quite slim iOS grows by a good third due to the AI models – and the trend is rising.
(Image: Apple)
Shortly before the launch of Apple Intelligence, Apple has announced further prerequisites and system requirements. For the first time, this also includes specific information on storage space requirements: on iPhones, the local language models of the AI package require at least 4 GB of free storage space at the start, as the manufacturer now notes in a support document. At the same time, Apple points out that the space requirements of the AI models will continue to increase as soon as additional functions are added.
Growing space requirements of the AI models
The iOS operating system therefore takes up a good third more space than before, growing from around 12 GB to around 16 GB. However, this only happens when Apple Intelligence is activated; the language models are not a fixed part of the operating system, but are loaded from Apple's servers. Individual AI functions such as the clean-up tool for removing image content require a separate download. In the iOS 18.1 beta, Apple AI on iPhones takes up almost 3 GB of storage space according to the system settings.
Apple Intelligence is initially still missing the previously announced functions relating to AI image generation, which are likely to significantly increase memory requirements. According to the company, they work purely locally instead of calculating the requests in Apple's AI cloud.
Apple Intelligence is making its debut with iOS 18.1, with the update due to be released to the public in October, as Apple notes in the document. A pre-release version can already be tested. The AI is only available on the new iPhone 16 series and on iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. iPads and Macs with an M1 chip are also supported. Image AI and Genmojis will presumably follow with iOS 18.2 towards the end of the year.
Apple Intelligence can only be activated in Germany with a trick
Apple's AI tools initially only support English, the operating system must be – and Siri – configured accordingly. Support for German and other languages has been announced for 2025. In Germany and all other EU member states, Apple Intelligence will initially only be available in macOS. Apple cites "regulatory uncertainties" due to EU competition law (Digital Markets Act – DMA) as the reason.
The AI therefore cannot be activated on iPhones and iPads as long as the user is located within the EU and uses an Apple ID or an Apple account that is also assigned to the EU. Outside the EU, for example in Switzerland and the UK, Apple Intelligence can be activated in iOS and iPadOS 18.1 as long as the operating system is set to US English. Once the AI is activated, it will continue to work when traveling to other regions, Apple emphasizes.
In Germany, Apple Intelligence can currently be activated by using an Apple account with a billing address outside the EU for "Media & Purchases" (this includes the App Store and Apple subscription services such as Music).
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