Apple Goes All-In on AI with iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence
Apple’s WWDC 2024 keynote showcased a significant shift towards artificial intelligence (AI) integration across its devices. This new approach, dubbed Apple Intelligence, promises to enhance user experience by offering features like on-device processing and proactive assistance across iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
Move over Siri, AI is taking center stage on your Apple devices. Here’s a deep dive into what you can expect with iOS 18, the first software update to embrace Apple Intelligence.
Siri Gets a Smart Upgrade

The once-frustrating virtual assistant is finally getting the AI boost it deserves. Siri will sport a new, modern look and a significant improvement in understanding your requests, even when you stumble or change your mind mid-sentence. You can also ditch voice commands altogether and type your questions directly to Siri. Additionally, Apple promises a deeper understanding of context, allowing you to ask follow-up questions related to your initial query.
But the most exciting Siri advancements are yet to come. Later this year, Apple plans to integrate on-screen awareness, enabling Siri to understand the context of what you’re viewing and even take actions within apps. This could revolutionize how you interact with your iPhone.
AI Comes to Your Text

Imagine having a personal writing assistant readily available. With iOS 18, that’s becoming a reality. A collaboration with OpenAI brings ChatGPT to your iPhone. You can ask questions, receive answers, and generate text, all without needing a separate account. Apple emphasizes user privacy – anything you send to ChatGPT wouldn’t be stored, and your permission would be required before every interaction.

But AI’s capabilities extend beyond just ChatGPT. System-wide AI can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text anywhere you type, from emails to notes. Essentially, AI becomes your personal editor, ensuring clarity and correcting grammatical errors on the fly.
A Photo Cleanup Revolution

Ever wished you could remove that unwanted photobomber or pesky object from a picture? iOS 18 grants your wish. A new photo editing tool leverages AI to seamlessly remove unwanted people or objects from your photos. This long-awaited feature puts Apple on par with similar offerings from Google and Samsung on Android devices.
Express Yourself with AI-Generated Emoji

Tired of the same old emoji? iOS 18 introduces Genmoji, a feature that uses AI to generate unique emoji tailored to any situation. Express yourself in a whole new way with these custom-made emoticons. Additionally, the Image Playground tool lets you create various AI-generated images throughout the operating system.
Personalization Goes Beyond AI

While AI steals the show, iOS 18 isn’t just about smart features. Apple is introducing unprecedented customization options for your iPhone. Soon, you’ll be able to personalize app icons with custom colors and arrange them freely on the screen, breaking free from the traditional grid layout. An enhanced Dark Mode will further personalize your experience by adjusting app icon colors.
Managing Passwords Gets Easier

Apple’s Keychain has long held your passwords and other secure information, but accessing it wasn’t always intuitive. iOS 18 introduces a dedicated Passwords app, bringing these features to the forefront and hopefully making password management a breeze. The Passwords app will be available across Apple devices, including Macs and the Vision Pro, as well as Windows machines.
Enhanced Notes and Phone Apps
The Notes app gains new functionalities with iOS 18. You can now record audio, create transcripts, and even generate summaries of your recordings. This feature also extends to the Phone app, allowing you to record calls with participant notification.
Messaging Gets a Major Overhaul

Messaging in iOS 18 becomes more expressive and versatile. You can now send tapbacks with any emoji, not just the limited options previously available. Animate your text with new effects, or use bold or strikethrough formatting for emphasis as well as schedule texts. Additionally, the long-awaited support for RCS messaging arrives, meaning smoother communication with Android users. Images and videos will be higher resolution, and you’ll finally have read receipts and typing indicators.
Apple is taking communication a step further by extending satellite support to text messages. This allows you to send messages even without cell service, a valuable feature for emergencies or remote locations.
Mirror Your iPhone on Your Mac

Imagine having a windowed version of your iPhone directly on your Mac. With iOS 18, this becomes a reality. You can interact with the mirrored iPhone just like you would in your hand, dragging and dropping files or typing with your computer’s keyboard. Notifications will appear on your Mac, allowing you to interact with them directly from the mirrored screen. Importantly, your iPhone remains securely locked while mirrored, ensuring privacy.
Enhanced Security and Privacy

Never worry about handing your phone to someone again. iOS 18 allows you to require additional authentication for specific apps, offering peace of mind when it comes to protecting sensitive apps like finance or healthcare. Information from those protected apps will be hidden from search and other parts of iOS. You can even choose to completely hide apps from view.
Note that not every Apple device will be able to take advantage of the new AI features: It’s only going to be available for the iPhone 15 Pro, the Pro Max (and newer), M-series Macs and iPads. Only these devices will be able to opt in to using Apple’s new AI tools.
iOS 18 would officially be released to the public sometime in September with Developers having access to the Betas right now.
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