Apple has officially entered the artificial intelligence arena, rolling out its new Apple Intelligence suite of services within the latest iOS 18.1 update. This innovative approach was unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024, promising to change how users interact with their devices. With the recent release of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, users can experience the initial wave of these exciting features.
Privacy is at the forefront of Apple Intelligence, as most of the AI tasks are processed directly on users’ devices. This is quite different from many other AI platforms, which often rely heavily on cloud processing. While Apple plans to roll out the complete suite gradually, the initial offerings are impressive enough to capture users' attention.
If you own devices like the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, the iPhone 16 series, or recent iPads with A17 Pro or M-series processors, you can access Apple Intelligence right away. All that's required is to enable the feature within your device settings and prepare to be amazed by the enhanced experiences awaiting you.
Before you get started, it’s important to update your device to iOS 18.1 and set both the device and Apple Intelligence language to English (United States). Navigate to Settings, find the Apple Intelligence option, and then join the waitlist. Although approval usually happens fairly quickly, be prepared for your device to download approximately 2.8GB of additional files via Wi-Fi. Once your device is updated and restarted, you are all set to explore the new features!
It’s worth noting, for now, most features primarily work within Apple's applications rather than third-party apps. Let’s take a closer look at some of the standout functionalities introduced with Apple Intelligence.
Writing Tools
Apple is challenging existing writing assistant apps with its AI-powered Writing Tools. This feature is available across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, revolutionizing how people write and communicate. Imagine having sophisticated proofreading capabilities and the ability to adjust your tone of voice with just one click. Writing Tools effortlessly integrates with any text field, helping to eliminate typos and enhancing your productivity.
Need to rephrase sentences or condense lengthy paragraphs? Apple Intelligence has got your back on this too. The tool can even pull out key data and organize it neatly, saving users considerable time and energy. This technology could reshape our relationship with writing, sparking debates about individuality and originality as more people might lean on AI to polish their messages.
Clean Up Feature in Photos
If you’ve struggled with unwanted distractions ruining your perfect photos, Apple’s new Clean Up feature might be your new best friend. A powerful tool built to compete with Google’s Magic Eraser, Clean Up allows users to remove objects from their pictures with amazing precision. Just select the item you want gone, and watch it disappear as the AI seamlessly fills the gap.
Searching for images has also become easier since the updated Photos app now supports natural language searches. Instead of endless scrolling, you can simply describe the photo you need, like “the picture of my dog at the beach last summer,” and find it almost instantly.
Call Recording and Transcriptions
A feature long-awaited by many is finally here: call recording on iPhones. Users can now record their phone calls simply by tapping the record button during conversations. To maintain transparency, the device informs both parties involved when the call is being recorded. iOS 18.1 goes even beyond recording; it includes transcription capabilities, creating summaries of conversations, which makes it easier to revisit important details later.
It's important to mention, though, the transcription is currently optimized for American English. Also, recorded calls are stored as separate files within the Notes app, which may feel somewhat inconvenient compared to saving them directly within the phone app. Nevertheless, the convenience of having built-in recording and transcription far outweighs these minor hiccups.
Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode
With the new Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode rolled out with iOS 18.1, Apple is helping users reclaim their focus. The feature intelligently filters out notifications so only the most relevant ones break through. Important reminders or urgent messages will still reach you, but the noise of unimportant notifications will be silenced, helping to minimize distractions.
This unique approach allows users to maintain control over what gets through. Activate the Intelligence Breakthrough & Silencing feature, and watch as the AI efficiently manages your notifications. And to personalize this experience, you can choose specific lock screens, home screen pages, and even notification types to align with your distraction-free environment.
Priority Messages in Mail
For those overwhelmed by the never-ending flow of emails, Apple’s updated Mail app might be just what you need. The new AI features help identify important time-sensitive messages and mark them as ‘Priority’. These messages show up at the top of your inbox, ensuring you never miss out on something important.
On top of this, the AI has the ability to summarize emails, which can save users precious time and energy sifting through less important messages. While the system isn't infallible, these AI enhancements mark significant progress toward creating a more manageable inbox.
Smart Reply Across Mail and Messages
The upgrades don’t stop there. The Mail and Messages apps are also receiving enhancements aimed at streamlining communication. One fantastic new feature is Smart Reply. Using Apple Intelligence, the apps analyze incoming messages and generate relevant response suggestions. Imagine being able to respond to simple inquiries with just one tap, making the process so much quicker.
Smart Reply takes things up a notch by grasping the conversation's contextual nuances. If someone emails about setting up a meeting, the AI identifies available dates and suggests specific replies, making the entire interaction smoother.
Extra Features
Beyond what has been mentioned, iOS 18.1 also introduces customized options for the look of photos through Photographic Styles on the latest iPhones. You can select and modify styles directly through your settings, for more personalized photography experiences.
Connectivity controls within the Control Center have been refined, enabling independent controls for elements like Wi-Fi, VPN, and AirDrop. Users can also establish or change their primary Apple ID email via settings, making organization much easier. Lastly, FDA-approved sleep apnea detection is now available on compatible Apple Watches running WatchOS 11, marking yet another significant health tool integration.
All of these features undoubtedly mark substantial steps forward for Apple's AI capabilities. While some tools are still rolling out, the prospect of fully-fledged Apple Intelligence features is beginning to look promising. For existing Apple users eager to embrace these upgrades, making sure your devices are updated and ready to join the innovative wave is necessary. What more might Apple roll out? Only time will tell, but for now, the future of user interaction with technology seems brighter than ever.
