Apple Intelligence is now available on eligible devices with iOS 18.1.
First announced at WWDC in June, Apple revealed plans to bring Apple Intelligence to the Pro versions of the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16 lineup this fall. Although AI features were absent at the September “Glowtime” event, Apple committed to releasing the initial Apple Intelligence features in October, with further updates expected in the coming months.
The latest iOS update initiates a phased rollout. “Apple Intelligence opens a new chapter for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, bringing innovative experiences and tools that will enhance what our users can achieve,” Apple CEO Tim Cook noted. “This development leverages years of AI and machine learning to integrate Apple’s generative models into our devices, offering a user-friendly intelligence system that also prioritizes privacy.”
Here’s a look at the features available now, those expected later in 2024, and future enhancements for 2025.
What Is Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence is not a standalone operating system or AI model; rather, it’s a collection of advanced AI features unified under a new brand. Although Apple didn’t specify the model powering Apple Intelligence, it’s clear the capabilities come from Apple’s in-house development.
Apple Intelligence operates exclusively on recent devices (iPhone 15 Pro and later, as well as iPads and Macs with an M1 chip or newer). This is not just an incentive for users to upgrade but also a necessity due to the hardware demands. The A18 and A18 Pro chips in the iPhone 16, Apple’s first AI-specific design, significantly improve processing speeds for machine learning tasks, memory bandwidth, and energy efficiency.
Privacy is a central component, with many AI tasks processed on-device to avoid reliance on remote servers. For any processing that must occur externally, Apple has developed a private network infrastructure. “On-device processing and Private Cloud Compute extend iPhone’s privacy and security into the cloud to safeguard user information,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering.
Apple Intelligence Features in iOS 18.1
Here’s a rundown of Apple Intelligence features now available with iOS 18.1 (for US English) and details on expanded language support coming in late 2024 and 2025.
- Writing Tools
- Siri enhancements, including advanced product knowledge, better request handling, a refreshed interface, more natural-sounding voice, and a new option to type to Siri.
- Photo Cleanup and Memory Creation
- Users can now create memory movies and search using natural language in Photos. The Clean Up tool allows object or person removal from images with ease.
- Notification Summaries and Focus Features
- New tools like Intelligent Breakthrough and Silencing, along with priority messaging in Mail, offer customized focus controls to minimize interruptions.
- Enhanced Smart Reply and Summarization in Mail and Messages
Writing Tools and Siri’s Upgrades
Writing Tools in iOS 18.1 help refine text across apps, from emails to Notes. Highlighting text now brings up options to proofread, rephrase, or summarize. This feature is widespread but may need further refinement to avoid AI hallucinations.
Siri has received a substantial update, from visual changes like a glowing screen border to improved natural language handling. It can answer complex Apple-related questions and handle context-based queries seamlessly. Voice or text queries are now available, enhancing flexibility.
Apple Intelligence represents a pivotal evolution in Apple’s AI capabilities, with features rolling out across devices over the coming months.
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