Apple is starting to release the Apple Intelligence features it introduced at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, but these features are currently available only to those using the developer beta versions of iOS 18.1.
This beta release might come with bugs, so users who prefer a stable experience should wait for the public beta or the final release later in the year. Additionally, these features are only accessible if the device’s language and region settings are set to U.S. English and U.S., respectively.
To use the Apple Intelligence features, developer beta users need to navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri menu in the Settings app and join the Apple Intelligence waitlist. After approval, they will receive a notification, although it might take some time to download the necessary data and models.
Users can disable the feature from the same menu whenever they wish. Apple mentioned that the waitlist ensures adequate service capacity for these AI features.
Apple Intelligence features function through a combination of on-device processing and requests to the Apple Private Cloud. Currently, only the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and devices with M1 chips, such as certain iPads and Macs, support these features. This rollout reflects Apple’s cautious approach to managing server load and ensuring a smooth user experience.
Some of the new features include an improved Siri, which now has a new animation and can handle corrected commands more effectively. Users can double-tap the bottom bar to text Siri, which is useful in noisy environments.
Additionally, Siri can answer system-related questions, and new writing tools allow for text reformatting, proofreading, and tone adjustment. The Mail app now provides email summaries and prioritizes important emails, while the Photos app supports natural language search and memory creation.
Other notable features include notification summaries, call transcriptions, and enhanced audio support in the Notes app. These features highlight Apple’s focus on integrating AI to streamline user interactions and enhance productivity. However, some anticipated features like object removal in photos, emoji creation, and interactions similar to ChatGPT are not yet available, with no specified timeline for their release.
