Apple Considered AI-Powered iPhone Home Screen

Apple considered introducing a new Apple Intelligence feature that would dynamically re-arrange apps on the Home Screen.

Apple Intelligence General Feature 2
The detail emerged in a report last week from The Information, which said that subordinates of software chief Craig Federighi approached him with proposals for an AI-powered iPhone ‌Home Screen‌. The feature would dynamically change the locations of apps on the ‌Home Screen‌ according to users' needs. Federighi reportedly rejected the idea, believing that it would disorient users, many of whom rely on knowing the fixed location of apps on their ‌Home Screen‌ for quick access.

With iOS 26, Apple prioritized new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features that included Live Translation, more powerful Visual Intelligence, ChatGPT image generation in Image Playground, and actions in Shortcuts. Broader and more capable ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features are expected to arrive later this year with iOS 27, such as a Siri chatbot powered by Google Gemini.

The rest of The Information's report focused on how Apple restructured its artificial intelligence strategy under Federighi, accelerating plans to overhaul Siri by relying on external AI models after years of internal delays and organizational friction.

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Top Rated Comments

zorinlynx Avatar
2 weeks ago
This is probably the worst idea I've ever heard of. Home screen is a big use of muscle memory for me. Heck I've even accidentally rearranged apps and then would launch the wrong app because I was so used to tapping at that location.

Stop trying to shove AI into everything!
Score: 60 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yuvaldv1 Avatar
2 weeks ago
Unsurprising that this was rejected. Who would want their app locations to be shuffled all the time?
Score: 54 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
2 weeks ago
Glad this went nowhere.

Horrendous idea.
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
2 weeks ago
. . . subordinates of software chief Craig Federighi approached him with proposals for an AI-powered iPhone Home Screen. The feature would dynamically change the locations of apps on the Home Screen according to users' needs.
Dumb subordinates. Who would want a home screen where the apps are randomly rearranged, making it harder to find the app you want?

iOS 26 Liquid Ass April Fools edition?
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
2 weeks ago
Hey, Apple subordinates. How about an AI-powered calendar app that randomly rearranges your appointments and meetings? ?‍♂️
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zwhaler Avatar
2 weeks ago
This is a classic example of bandwagoning off of the current hype trend "AI" and creating solutions in search of a problem as a result. The same thing happened with NFTs after bitcoin popped. Luckily nobody is being forced to use this terrible idea.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)