The biggest benefit of Apple Intelligence so far is clear

Apple Intelligence, Apple’s set of generative artificial intelligence features, is only now becoming public, but its biggest initial impact may already be seen this week.

It started yesterday with the M4 iMac line doubling the base RAM from 8GB to 16GB. Apple did it again today with the M4 Mac mini. Education store customers can buy an M4 Mac mini with 16GB RAM for just $499 — that’s wild. The new M4 Mac mini is a total steal. It replaces the M2 Mac mini with 8GB for the same price.

We expect the base M4 MacBook Pro to arrive tomorrow with the same RAM doubling. Why the sudden RAM generosity across the board from Apple? AI, of course.

In a world without Apple Intelligence, Apple would eventually increase the base RAM in each Mac over time. This year, however, Apple clearly wants to future proof the Mac for generative AI features to come. Apple doesn’t want another iPhone 15 situation where it announces software features that can’t run on existing flagship hardware.

Does this mean the M4 MacBook Air will make the leap from 8GB to 16GB RAM when we see those machines after the turn of the year? If so, that’s a wonderful upgrade for Mac users — even if you never use generative AI.

One final thought: oh how far the Mac mini has risen since the days of the languishing form factor remaining a product in Apple’s lineup. The M4 Mac line is proving to be mighty in force.