The anticipation has finally come to an end. Apple Intelligence is officially making its grand entrance with the public releases of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 today. Traditionally, point-one updates to Apple’s operating systems are known for minor feature additions and bug fixes. However, this year’s update is significant as it introduces Apple Intelligence, a feature that wasn’t ready in time for the initial iOS 18 rollout.
The new iPhone 16 series, which was marketed as “built for Apple Intelligence,” launched without these features, making this release highly anticipated. For those with older devices, iOS 18.1 may not seem as groundbreaking, since only the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max from the previous generation will support Apple Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence Features
You’ll know you can access Apple Intelligence when you receive a notification from Apple. The initial generative AI features available include:
- Writing Tools: Proofreading, rewriting, and text summaries.
- Live Transcriptions: Available for phone calls and audio in the Notes app, with the ability to generate summaries of these transcriptions.
- Photos and Videos Organization: The overhauled Photos app can reorganize your media around memorable events such as trips and special occasions. You can also create your own Memories within the app.
Siri Overhaul
The beginnings of a Siri overhaul are also included in this update. You can now type requests and questions to Siri, which was previously voice-only. If you prefer speaking, Siri should now better understand requests even if you stutter or interrupt yourself. The Siri interface has been updated, featuring a glowing border around the screen when activated. However, more advanced Siri-driven features, such as improved understanding of personal context, will be available in future updates.
Device Compatibility
Apple Intelligence is currently available on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 lineup. It is also supported on M-series iPads and Macs, as well as the new A17 Pro-powered iPad mini.
Language and Regional Availability
Initially, access to Apple Intelligence is limited to devices and Siri set to US English. Starting in December, Apple Intelligence will become available in more countries and languages. However, due to regulatory issues, it will not be broadly offered in the European Union or mainland China right away. Apple is in discussions with officials in these regions to make Apple Intelligence available.
Additional Features in iOS 18.1
In addition to Apple Intelligence, iOS 18.1 introduces several new features:
- Hearing Test: Support for using AirPods Pro as over-the-counter hearing aids.
- Email Management: Easier process for changing the primary email address linked to your Apple Account.
Future Updates
More Apple Intelligence features are on the horizon. The developer betas for iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 were released last week. These include additional writing tools, Genmoji (a custom emoji generator), Image Playground (animated and illustrated-style image generation), Visual Intelligence (similar to Google Lens), and ChatGPT integration.
Global Expansion
For users in other countries and languages, Apple plans to add support for localized English in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK in December. A larger update in April will expand language support beyond English to include Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese, among other unspecified languages.
How to Update Your iPhone to iOS 18.1
- Open the “Settings” app and tap “General.”
- Tap “Software Update.”
- Your phone will load the latest software update available. From there, you can either tap “Update Now” or “Update Tonight.”
- Enter your iPhone’s passcode to start the update.
By following these steps, you can ensure your device is up-to-date and ready to take advantage of the latest features Apple has to offer.
