Before proceeding, I have the following questions: What makes a computer an AI computer? Is it simply the ability to perform AI-powered tasks? How can I run LLM locally? Is it something deeper? Is a computer capable of performing any form of artificial intelligence/machine learning essentially an AI computer?
At first glance it's a simple question. But in reality, we will probably never get a satisfactory answer. Still, it's important to prepare for the year when everything is “AI.”
If you were playing along at home, you probably weren't too surprised when Apple humbly hailed its new M3 MacBook Air as “the world's best AI-enabled consumer laptop” in a recent press release. The “laptop” and “consumer” qualifications are primarily intended to distinguish the new notebook from other Apple products, which are supposed to be the best AI desktops and laptops, respectively.
Rather than having any unique features in this update, Apple says the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs have powerful AI capabilities. Rather, it means that the building blocks have always been there, especially in the form of neural engines. This element has been built into Mac silicon for years, but is often overshadowed by the CPU and GPU, and is generally easier to understand for both consumers and reviewers.
This capability is difficult to quantify in terms of real-world performance compared to, say, a graphics chip, but it's probably best understood as something like a GPU for machine learning. It's been clear for some time that this will become an increasingly important aspect of everyday computing, and the emergence of ChatGPT and its cousins has brought this to the attention of many consumers.
First of all, what is an “AI laptop”?
Image credit: Brian Heater
Apple is so committed to this concept because Samsung positioned the S24 as the industry's first “AI phone,” and last year Google called the Pixel 8 Pro “the first smartphone with built-in AI.” It's for the same reason. Although these are largely marketing concepts, they are a good barometer of how the top of the industry as a whole is faring.
The sudden explosion of generative AI has transformed artificial intelligence from something abstract and theoretical to something concrete and concrete for many people. Naturally, everyone wants it. We can expect Apple to put even more emphasis on this concept when the iPhone 16 launches later this year. After all, machine learning has been a key aspect of capabilities such as computational photography for some time.
But right now, Apple can't tell exactly the story it wants to tell. The company's generative AI story, for now, is one of delayed gratification. During Apple's latest quarterly earnings call, Tim Cook promised “groundbreaking innovation” in generative AI, adding: We will reserve space later this year. ”
Image credit: Brian Heater
There's no doubt that Apple is investing heavily in this space, and members of its ill-fated automotive team are also pouring into it. But the one thing Apple can point to at the moment is the hardware, as its competitors currently have a head start. Part of this may also stem from the fact that the new Airs aren't fundamentally new hardware. Rather, it has been refreshed with new(ish) silicon.
That's natural. The Mac product line has undergone many changes over the past four years. All of these accomplishments came together beautifully in his Air model last year. I have no hesitation in calling this the best consumer laptop Apple has ever made. It's safe to say that it's the best laptop for most people, depending on where your operating system loyalties lie. They're not perfect – sacrificing certain “pro” features for weight and size has been a long-standing feature of this line – but many or most of them are something the average consumer will find lacking. You don't even realize it's happening.
Mainstream air
Image credit: Brian Heater
In addition to learning from past stumbles like the keyboard flaws and primarily the DOA Touch Bar, the 2023 Air benefited greatly from its first-party silicon efforts through its M-line chips. The final product felt exactly like the MacBook many of us have wanted for a long time. It's lightweight, powerful, has long battery life, and is affordable (by Mac standards) starting at $1,099 for the 13-inch and $1,299 for the 15-inch. . Rather, the line established the Pro as a niche product, as the Air replaced the standard MacBook as most models.
As a professional writer, I consider myself in a fairly creative field. I record and edit weekly podcasts and occasionally shoot videos. This gig allows me to test all kinds of laptops, and I keep coming back to the Air. Admittedly, my frequent travel, along with some newly discovered degenerative back issues, play quite a role in the technology I choose.
In my opinion, the 15-inch model strikes a good balance between screen size and portability. Weighing in at 3.3 pounds, it didn't feel like the burden I carried all the way to Mobile World Congress last week, and (don't tell the Delta flight attendants) it fit comfortably in my seatback pocket.
Image credit: Brian Heater
There are really only two things I miss about the Pro. The first is a port issue. Both Air models have a pair of USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports next to the MagSafe connector. Sometimes I'm stuck with stuff and miss his 3 ports on the 16″ Pro. That alone isn't enough to make you switch. What's more, I don't miss having an SD slot. Dongles are a pain, but part of the modern landscape in Apple country. However, if you were always shooting with an SLR, it would probably be a different story.
Now, port calculations vary a lot depending on your home/office setup. I'm lucky (or perhaps stupid) to have a desktop system at home. As with the Pro model, this will probably be overkill for many, especially considering 1) the cost and 2) the fact that the M3 chip supports two external monitors.
Image credit: Brian Heater
The iPad may have eroded the Mac's market share among more casual users, but as laptop product lines become more powerful, the need for a dedicated desktop is replaced by the iPad for many people. I am. This device has great versatility, allowing him to travel around the world or bring it home to connect to his two external monitors. For Studio Display, the process is as simple as connecting to a Thunderbolt port and closing the hood of your laptop. Little further configuration is required and you suddenly have a ton of screen real estate and a bunch of free ports on the back of your monitor.
Considering the power and performance of the standard M3, there's really no reason not to. This is one of the big contradictions of Apple silicon. In other words, the more powerful the base, the more niche the high-end device becomes for most users.
The only caveat to all of this is when playing games. Apple would never admit it, but the $300 billion-plus industry took a backseat to his Mac for most of its lifespan. Despite its early dominance, Apple fell behind and was ultimately left behind by the industry. For decades, playing games on a Mac seemed like a lost cause. If you want to play something much more complex than Solitaire, you'll need to buy a Windows machine or console. This isn't to say that Apple has caught up in any meaningful metric (its gaming library still lags Windows), but it does at least have caught up thanks to a combination of first-party silicon, metal, and development for the iPhone. . , brings the company back into the conversation for those looking to move beyond mobile.
If gaming is your primary reason for being, a Mac probably isn't on your list. However, if AAA games are part of your overall computer needs, you can scratch that itch. While it's true that macOS libraries still pale in comparison to Windows, Apple is starting to improve it with daily releases from big-name studios.
Mistake on Air side
Image credit: Apple
The M3 debuted last year as part of Apple's Scary Fast event (which happened to be the day before Halloween). The company went against the standard silicon release pace by introducing his three versions at once: M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max. It feels like the production ramp-up, coupled with supply chain issues that have been ongoing for the past four years, has significantly changed the release roadmap.
The refreshed 24-inch iMac now comes with the base M3, and the new MacBook Pro comes with M3, Pro, and Max. The base M3 features an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU (upgradable to 10 cores), and a 16-core Neural Engine. Both the 13-inch and 15-inch models come with 8GB of RAM by default and are configurable up to 24GB. Similarly, 256GB of storage goes up to 2TB.
Image credit: Brian Heater
In fact, aside from display size (technically 13.6 inches and 15.3 inches, respectively) and starting price, there's not much difference between the two machines. This became clear last year when his 15-inch model was announced with the same M2 chip a few months after the 13-inch. This joint announcement requires the two models to be on the same update cycle.
Even more noticeable is the very narrow groove between the base 15-inch Air and 14-inch Pro. The specs are pretty much the same across the board, except that the listed battery life is 22 hours versus 18 hours on the Air model (giving you more headroom to operate a thicker, heavier machine). The Pro also features a Liquid Retina XDR display that packs 3024 x 1964 pixels into less screen real estate than the Air's 2880 x 1864.
It's hard to recommend the basic Pro over the Air. However, if you feel the need to upgrade to the M3 Pro, the math changes. At that point, you also have to factor in the fact that (somewhat ironically) the Airs don't have fans. In other words, a thermal bottleneck will occur when the machine actually starts running. That said, Apple likes to point out how difficult it is to get the fan running during daily use. That said, most Air users won't mind the lack of a fan most of the time.
Still the best MacBook for most people
Image credit: Brian Heater
When it came out last year, we declared the 13-inch the best MacBook for most people. Since then, the only real challenger has been the 15-inch model, which has been my daily driver ever since. Airs has taken over the throne of a truly mainstream device from the standard MacBook, and with its rise, Pro models are increasingly moving to the margins. The only major change here is an upgraded chip, making the 2024 model just a refresh.
In the world of consumer electronics, that makes sense. Apple has created his best MacBook ever with the 2023 Air. It was a perfect storm of powerful silicon, good industrial design, and lessons learned from recent hardware stumbles. All things considered, it was ultimately for the best that the company stuck with the formula here. As for the whole “World's Best AI-Enabled Consumer Laptop” thing, this is pure marketing. Intel made the same claim late last year regarding its new Meteor Lake chips.
To the extent that generative AI is now available to consumers, most modern laptops and cell phones are at least — usable. For now, the conversation is mainly focused on future-proofing systems that are ready for big leaps ahead. This is definitely a top priority for Apple, as the company plans to make its first big announcement on the subject later this year (his WWDC in June seems like as good a time as ever).
Significant progress has been made in bringing generative AI to consumers. Whether such platforms are useful on a day-to-day basis is another matter entirely, but to get the most out of them you need a capable machine, and the new Airs fit that bill. Although the ability to run large-scale language models (LLMs) locally is novel, most consumers will continue to rely on cloud-based processing when using these models.
Programmers who want to get really serious will probably look to the Pro models and other high-end machines. But for most consumers, the Air remains the best his MacBook, and nothing even comes close.