Apple’s iPhone 16 is here — but it’s not finished without AI

Let’s be super clear about something: the iPhone 16’s “Camera Control” is very much a button. It’s a cool multipurpose button that has a lot to say about how Apple views cameras and AI and the future of how we interact with technology and the world, but a button just the same. And the new button may be the most interesting thing about the new slate of iPhones.

We also talk a lot about what isn’t shipping on these new devices: Apple Intelligence, the AI-powered overhaul that Apple hopes will convince you to upgrade and change your relationship with your devices. None of that is here yet. So why is Apple shipping its AI phones without AI? And when can we expect to see whether the upgrade is really worth it? We have some thoughts.

If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started: