Leaks from deep within Apple‘s supply chain have shed light on the semiconductor giant’s plans to introduce advanced AI capabilities to its next-generation iPhone processors. However, a divergence appears to be emerging, with the higher-end “Pro” models set to receive the full brunt of Apple’s AI ambitions, while their more affordable counterparts may lag.

The report, originating from the well-respected analyst Jeff Pu at Haitong International Tech Research, suggests that Apple’s forthcoming A18 Pro system-on-chip will boast a significantly larger die area compared to its A17 Pro chip. This enlarged footprint could be a telltale sign that the Cupertino tech behemoth is packing the A18 Pro with specialized hardware dedicated to accelerating on-device artificial intelligence computations.

On-device AI, the ability for a smartphone to process AI tasks locally rather than relying on cloud computing, has thus far been a weak point for Apple’s mobile processors when compared to the leading Android flagships. Qualcomm’s current top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, for instance, already features a dedicated AI engine capable of crunching through neural networks and machine learning models without internet connectivity.

By increasing the A18 Pro’s die size, Apple could be making room for more transistors or custom AI accelerator cores, paving the way for a souped-up Neural Engine that vastly outguns the capabilities of the A16 Bionic. Theorized use cases for this cutting-edge on-device AI span image processing, computational photography augmented reality experiences, and even on-the-fly language translation.

Whispers from the valley also suggest that Apple may look to license Google’s cutting-edge “Gemini” large language model, potentially enabling a version of the AI assistant to run partially on-device. This hybrid approach, combining locally processed AI with cloud-based number crunching, could allow Apple’s 2024 iPhone lineup to offer highly responsive and context-aware AI experiences.

Interestingly, Pu’s supply chain memo explicitly refers to the A18 Pro as the variant packing six GPU cores, implying the existence of a separate, standard A18 chip with fewer graphics processing units. This aligns with mounting evidence that Apple plans to stratify its 2024 iPhone portfolio, reserving the full AI prowess of the A18 Pro for the higher-tier “Pro” models, while more affordable devices like the rumored iPhone 16 and 16 Plus make do with the vanilla A18.

With its deep talent pool, prodigious R&D budget, and vertically integrated hardware-software expertise, all eyes will be on Apple as it navigates the oncoming AI upheaval. The company’s ability to effectively democratize on-device AI, while reserving the cutting edge for its premium offerings, could very well set the tone for the broader mobile AI landscape.