Apple is releasing the first beta of iOS 18.1 to developers today. This update, available for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, introduces initial Apple Intelligence features, including Writing Tools, enhancements to Mail and notifications, improvements to Photos, and additional updates.
Apple is giving developers a sneak peek at its new Apple Intelligence AI platform with the release of updated developer betas for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS on Monday. These updates, labeled iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia, are the first to include Apple Intelligence, which was first introduced at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.
What’s New in the Developer Betas
Writing Tools: Users can now rewrite, proofread, and summarize text across various apps, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party applications.
New Features for Siri:
- A fresh design with a glowing light that wraps around the screen’s edge when Siri is active.
- The ability to switch between text and voice interactions.
- Expanded device support, allowing Siri to answer thousands of questions about using iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
- Improved understanding of context, allowing Siri to follow along even if users stumble over words or make successive requests.
New Features for Mail:
- A new section at the top of the inbox highlights the most urgent emails, such as same-day dinner invitations or boarding passes.
- Instead of previewing just the first few lines, users can now see summaries of emails without opening them.
- Smart Reply offers quick response suggestions and identifies questions in emails to ensure they’re addressed.
Reduce Interruptions: A new Focus mode prioritizes notifications that require immediate attention, like texts about early pickups from daycare.
New Features for Photos:
- Search with natural language to find specific photos, such as “Maya skateboarding in a tie-dye shirt” or “Katie with stickers on her face.”
- Video search lets users find specific moments in clips, allowing them to jump directly to relevant segments.
- Memories: Create personalized stories by typing a description. Apple Intelligence selects the best photos and videos based on the description, crafts a storyline with chapters, and arranges them into a movie with a narrative arc.
Transcriptions: Summaries are provided for transcriptions, making it easier to review content.
Several Apple Intelligence features will not be included in the iOS 18.1 release today. These upcoming features include Image Playground, Genmoji, Priority Notifications, a more advanced Siri with on-screen awareness, and ChatGPT integration.
How Developers Can Get Started
Developers can explore Apple Intelligence through a new button in their device’s Settings menu. They can join a waitlist to start using these features. The waitlist helps Apple manage the demand on its cloud services, preventing any potential overload.
According to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple Intelligence will officially launch in October, not September as usual. This means if you buy the upcoming iPhone 16, you might need to wait a bit before you can use the new AI features.
Why Apple Intelligence Matters
Apple Intelligence is a major update, bringing significant changes to Apple’s software. It will introduce many users to generative AI for the first time. Success in rolling out this feature will be key to making sure users have a great experience and can make full use of the new technology.
Analysts think that Apple Intelligence could boost iPhone sales and lead to a more frequent upgrade cycle. However, some believe that the strong demand for new phones, rather than the AI features, will drive sales.
Currently, Apple Intelligence will only be available on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. If you have an older model, like the iPhone 15 or iPhone 14 Pro, you’ll need to upgrade to access these new features.
Apple will need to avoid issues similar to those faced by competitors like Google, which has had problems with its AI Search service. Samsung and Google have also introduced their own AI features in recent smartphone models. Google is set to unveil its Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold phones on August 13, showcasing their generative AI advancements.