The initial response to Apple Intelligence has been…disappointing. Compared to rivals like Google Gemini and ChatGPT, its capabilities in areas like image creation and natural language processing feel noticeably behind. Early demonstrations revealed a suite of AI tools that, at best, underwhelmed, and at worst, struggled with tasks other engines handle with ease.
While Apple prepares to unveil its redesigned Siri, competitors aren’t standing still – they’re rapidly advancing their AI offerings. A recent test, shared on Instagram, vividly illustrates this gap. The challenge? Remove Nick Fury’s iconic eyepatch from a still of *The Avengers* using the built-in AI editing tools of three different phones.
The results were stark. Apple Intelligence produced a crude, obvious edit, failing to convincingly fill the space where the patch had been. It didn’t even attempt to understand the context – why someone might *have* an eyepatch. The outcome was a jarring, unfinished image.
Samsung’s Galaxy AI fared significantly better, cleanly removing the patch and generating a matching eye. It was a competent, if not spectacular, result. But Google Gemini truly excelled, achieving a seamless removal that left virtually no trace of the original patch.
Gemini didn’t just erase the eyepatch; it *understood* the character. Recognizing Fury’s reason for wearing it, the AI intelligently replaced the patch with a realistic glass eye. This demonstrated a level of contextual awareness Apple Intelligence simply didn’t possess.
Despite this humbling comparison, there’s a glimmer of hope for Apple. A substantial upgrade to Apple Intelligence is planned for 2026, beginning with the new Siri and continuing with iOS 27. This isn’t just incremental improvement; it’s a planned overhaul.
Crucially, Apple is partnering with Google, leveraging a customized version of the Gemini large language model as the foundation for the new Siri. If this collaboration delivers on its promise, Apple Intelligence could be poised for a dramatic leap forward in the coming months, potentially closing the gap with its competitors.
