Tech Desk
Sep 14, 2024
iOS 18 is set to be released to the public on September 16, 2024 (Monday), while the first Apple Intelligence features will not be offered until iOS 18.1 is launched in October.
Apple Intelligence features would continue to roll out in iOS 18.2 and beyond, with the anticipated road map mentioned below per Apple’s website and rumours.
iOS 18.1
Here are some key Apple Intelligence features in the iOS 18.1 beta.
- A few Siri enhancements, including improved understanding for both follow-up requests and when you stumble over your words
- Writing tools for rewriting, summarising, and proofreading text
- Notification summaries for Messages, Mail, and many other apps
- Suggested replies in the Messages and Mail apps
- A new "Clean Up" tool in the Photos app can remove unwanted people or objects from photos and use generative AI to fill in the background
- The ability to create a Memories movie in the Photos app by typing a description
- Phone call recording and transcription
- A new Focus mode called Reduce Interruptions that surfaces important notifications only
- Article summaries when using Reader Mode in the Safari app
iOS 18.2
The Cupertino-based tech giant has been internally checking iOS 18.2 for at least a few months, based on evidence of the software version in our website's analytics logs.
iOS 18.2 is expected to be released in December, as that is when Apple confirmed that it will be making Apple Intelligence available in more English-speaking countries.
Read more: iOS 18 introduces new ways to customise iPhone’s Home Screen, Lock Screen
iOS 18.2 is said to expand Apple Intelligence to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom (UK) for the first time.
Image Playground and Genmoji
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, two more Apple Intelligence features previewed previously will be added in iOS 18.2, including Image Playground for generating images and Genmoji for generating custom emoji.
ChatGPT integration with Siri
Apple stated that ChatGPT will be offered through Siri before the end of the year, so this integration is expected to go live with iOS 18.2.
With user permission, Siri would be able to display ChatGPT answers directly in response to questions and other prompts. ChatGPT will also be an option for Apple's system-wide Writing Tools feature, letting users generate text and images.
Moreover, Apple confirmed ChatGPT will be powered by OpenAI's latest GPT-4o model on its platforms.
Read more: iOS 18 — Apple invites developers to submit apps for next-gen update
iPhone, iPad, and Mac users will be able to use ChatGPT for free, without creating an account, and ChatGPT Plus subscribers will be able to connect their accounts to access paid features on these devices.
iOS 18.3
iOS 18.3 is expected to be a minor upgrade launched shortly after the United States (US) holiday season. However, it is unclear if this version will include any new Apple Intelligence features.
iOS 18.4
Siri: Personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Siri's ability to give more personalised and contextual responses will not be available until March. Earlier, he said that Siri's context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls will be available as part of iOS 18.4.
Apple Intelligence in more countries
Apple said Apple Intelligence will gain support for additional languages — like Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish — next year. This time-frame indicates these languages will be integrated into iOS 18.4.
