Apple has introduced the first version of its new artificial intelligence suite, Apple Intelligence, as part of the developer beta for iOS 18.1.
TakeAway Points:
- Apple has made its AI suite, Apple Intelligence, available to registered developers with iPhone 15 Pro or later through the iOS 18.1 developer beta.
- Enhanced Siri capabilities and AI-generated summaries for Mail and Messages are among the features brought to bear by Apple.
- The full public release of the suite is anticipated later this year, and a Bank of America analyst has predicted that AI features will drive a strong iPhone upgrade cycle, with additional improvements expected in the 2025 iPhone.
Apple Unveils Artificial Intelligence Suite
This release is also available for iPad and Mac in their respective developer betas. Currently, the software is accessible only to registered Apple developers who pay an annual fee of $99. Users must also join a waitlist within the Apple settings app after updating to gain access to the service, which involves connecting to Apple servers for more complex requests. The public release is expected later this year, but the 18.1 version number indicates that Apple Intelligence will not be launched alongside new iPhone hardware, which is anticipated to run iOS 18 in the fall.
Apple Intelligence is a significant initiative for the company, with investors hoping that the tight integration of AI with Apple’s operating system will drive a substantial wave of upgrades in the coming years. The system will only be compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and newer models. Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan noted, “We expect this iPhone cycle to remain strong for longer as AI feature sets (software and possibly hardware) improve in the 2025 iPhone.”
Features and Availability
The preview of Apple Intelligence does not include all the features that were demonstrated at Apple’s annual developer conference in June. The current preview includes several new functionalities:
A new design that makes the phone’s edge glow; enhanced photo search and movie creation; AI-generated summaries for Mail, Messages, and voicemail transcriptions; Writing Tools, Apple’s text-generation service; and enhanced Siri capabilities, including understanding commands even when the speaker stammers over their words.
However, some features are not yet available in the AI preview but are expected to be rolled out over the next year. These include:
More features for Siri, include the usage of personal data and the ability to do actions inside of apps, image production, emoji creation, automated photo cleanup, and OpenAI ChatGPT integration.
Developer Access and Future Releases
Apple plans to give developers early access to Apple Intelligence as soon as this week in the iOS 18.1 beta. The company first announced Apple Intelligence on June 10. The AI features, which will also be available on all Macs and iPads that run the M1 chip or newer, can proofread writing, rewrite text in a friendly or professional tone, create custom emojis, and summarize and transcribe phone calls. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Starting today, those with Apple developer accounts can update their software and access the new Apple Intelligence features by joining a waitlist. It should take only a few hours to gain access to the new features. It is important to note that users must have either an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max to use the new Apple Intelligence features in the iOS 18.1 developer beta, or an iPad or Mac with an M1 chip or newer for the iPadOS 18.1 preview. Users should also back up their devices before installing the developer beta, as the software might be unstable or buggy.
Once granted access, Apple will deliver a notification to the user’s device. The new features available in this version of the beta include writing tools for proofreading, rewriting, or summarizing text, the ability to create Memories in the redesigned Photos app, and some updated Siri functionalities, including typing to the assistant and understanding if the user stutters.
Features that are not yet available include Genmoji, ChatGPT integration, and personal context and in-app actions for Siri. More features are expected to arrive in future betas, with the full, general release of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia anticipated later this year.
