Apple has rolled out public betas for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, giving non-developers early access to test the upcoming software ahead of its October release. Public beta testers who are part of Apple’s beta program can download these updates through the Software Update section in the settings of their devices. These betas introduce new features, particularly focusing on Apple’s AI-based initiative known as “Apple Intelligence.”
The Apple Intelligence suite brings several AI-driven enhancements across the system. While not all AI features are available in the beta, it includes Writing Tools, updates to Siri, smart replies, and the ability to summarize text. These new capabilities are only available on select devices, such as the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, or any Mac or iPad powered by Apple’s M-series processors.
One notable addition is the Writing Tools feature, which helps users with spell checking, grammar correction, tone adjustment, and summarizing text whenever editable text is present. Siri has also received a significant update with a new interface that adds a subtle glowing effect to the display.
The improved Siri can better follow along if users stumble over their words and can maintain context between commands. Additionally, Safari can now summarize articles, and a new Focus Mode called Reduce Interruptions helps filter out unnecessary notifications to keep users focused on important ones.
Other AI-powered improvements include smart replies integrated into the Messages and Mail apps, allowing for quicker responses with suggested replies. The Mail app also highlights time-sensitive messages at the top of the inbox for easier access.
In Photos, the new Memory Movie feature lets users create slideshows using text descriptions, and a Clean Up tool helps remove unwanted objects from images. Call recording and transcription are available to all iOS 18.1 users, with the transcriptions saved in the Notes app. However, the ability to summarize these phone call transcriptions is an Apple Intelligence-specific feature.
Several features, like Image Playground, Genmoji, and additional Siri enhancements, are still under development and are not yet part of the current beta release. Apple plans to add these and other improvements in future updates as the final version of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 approaches its official launch in October.
