Apple Debuts iOS 18.1 Featuring ‘Apple Intelligence’ for iPhones

On Monday, Apple rolled out iOS 18.1, unveiling its AI platform, Apple Intelligence, for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro models. This update also extends Apple Intelligence’s features to iPads and Macs, marking a key development for Apple as it enhances its AI initiatives to generate excitement around the recently launched iPhone 16 series.

Apple Intelligence is the company’s strategic answer to the rapid evolution of AI across the tech industry, especially as other major players concentrate on cloud-driven AI systems that depend on robust Nvidia hardware. In contrast, Apple maintains a device-focused approach that capitalizes on the internal chip capabilities of the iPhone, while some more complicated tasks are handled via Apple’s servers.

To start, Apple Intelligence provides a range of functions, including text editing tools that can proofread or rewrite content, features for removing objects from photos, and notification summaries that condense alerts into a single message. Siri has also been refreshed in this update, presenting a new design that highlights the edges of the screen and an improved ability to respond to inquiries about Apple products. While Siri’s functionalities are still confined to specific apps, broader enhancements, including ChatGPT integration, are anticipated in the upcoming iOS 18.2 update next year.

Wamsi Mohan, an analyst with Bank of America Securities, has voiced optimism about the potential of Apple Intelligence to drive iPhone sales, suggesting that interest may “increase after the initial rollout of Apple Intelligence at the end of October.” However, to use Apple Intelligence, users must sign up and join a waitlist. Eligibility requires owning an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or an iPhone 16, and once enrolled, the device will download the necessary AI components.

Key features include a notification summary tool that streamlines updates from sources like market alerts or group chats. Siri’s revamped text interface, accessed by swiping up, enables silent queries. The writing tools now empower users to rephrase text in both Apple and third-party apps, allowing for adjustments in tone to options like “friendly,” “professional,” or “concise.”

Further updates have also been made to Apple’s Mail and Photos apps, where Photos can now conduct natural language searches and generate mini-movies from collections of images, enhancing the overall experience in iOS 18.1.

To download iOS 18.1, navigate to Settings > General > Software Update. To register for the Apple Intelligence waitlist, go to Settings > Apple Intelligence and Siri > Join the Apple Waitlist.