Apple is gearing up for the release of its highly anticipated iOS 18.4 update, which is set to debut on April 1, 2025, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. This update promises to introduce several new features, including enhanced Apple Intelligence capabilities, new emoji, and a dedicated app for the Apple Vision Pro headset. The announcement comes from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, who noted that the latest beta versions of iOS 18.4 have been released and are considered ready for customers.
According to Gurman, iOS 18.4 will include significant enhancements to the user experience, particularly with priority notifications that will help users manage alerts more effectively by displaying the most important notifications right on the lock screen. Additionally, a new food section in News+ will offer recipes and articles from various publishers, catering to the growing interest in culinary content.
One of the standout features of iOS 18.4 is the expansion of Apple Intelligence, which will now support eight additional languages, including French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish, as well as English for speakers in India and Singapore. This marks a significant step towards making Apple’s AI capabilities more accessible to a diverse global audience.
For users of the iPhone 16 models, including the iPhone 16e, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple Intelligence will offer enhanced features in the Mail app, which have already been available on the latest iPhone models. This integration aims to streamline user interactions and improve the overall efficiency of the device.
In addition to the new features, the Photos app will receive updates that allow users to order items in new ways, apply new filters, and sort albums more effectively. Users will also have the option to disable recently viewed items, enhancing privacy and organization.
Apple is also making strides in its Health app, with plans to introduce an ‘AI doctor’ service as part of a significant overhaul. CEO Tim Cook has emphasized that healthcare will be one of Apple’s most important contributions to society. The revamped Health app, known as Project Mulberry, will utilize an AI agent to analyze data collected from various Apple devices, including the iPhone, Apple Watch, and third-party products, to provide personalized health recommendations.
As reported by Bloomberg, the AI agent will be trained using data from Apple’s in-house doctors, with aspirations to incorporate insights from external medical professionals. This initiative is expected to enhance user engagement with health data and provide users with a more interactive experience.
To support this initiative, Apple is establishing a facility near Oakland, California, where medical professionals can create video content for the Health app. This effort is being spearheaded by Sumbul Desai, who leads Apple’s health team, and Jeff Williams, the company’s chief operating officer.
While the iOS 18.4 update is set to roll out shortly, Apple is also looking ahead to its iOS 19 update, which will be announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) scheduled for June 9-13, 2025. This upcoming update is anticipated to bring a new design and further enhancements to Apple Intelligence features, particularly for Siri.
Reports suggest that iOS 19 will address Siri’s longstanding performance issues compared to its rivals, such as Google Assistant and Samsung’s Bixby. Apple is reportedly reorganizing its teams to expedite the development of key features that will enhance Siri’s capabilities, including personal context awareness and on-screen awareness.
These features, initially expected to launch with iOS 18.4, have faced delays, leading to speculation that they will be included in the next major iOS version. The anticipated updates aim to make Siri more intuitive by allowing it to understand user intent better and provide contextually relevant responses.
Furthermore, the next iteration of Siri may introduce what is being referred to as ‘LLM Siri,’ which would enable the voice assistant to engage in more conversational interactions, akin to capabilities seen in AI models like ChatGPT.
Despite Apple's ambitious plans for its AI initiatives, the company has faced challenges in delivering timely updates and features. The rollout of AI capabilities, branded as Apple Intelligence, has been inconsistent, with several features announced at WWDC 2024 still not available to users.
In response to criticism regarding the accuracy of its AI-generated news summaries, which were halted due to backlash from media outlets like the BBC, Apple is working to refine its approach to AI in order to regain user trust and enhance the overall experience.
As the tech giant prepares for the upcoming iOS 18.4 release and the anticipated iOS 19 announcement, many are eager to see how these developments will reshape the Apple ecosystem and improve user interaction with its devices.
