The month of June was one of the most important for Apple in recent years since part of the big artificial intelligence project for apple operating systems. However, we were left with the feeling of having a lot of AI-based functions in our heads without being clear about what the implementation was going to be like or a list of all the functions. All this will be cleared up little by little but at least You can now enjoy (not in the European Union, of course) some of the Apple Intelligence functions in the new betas for developers published a few days ago: iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1. We discuss all the new features added below.
Apple Intelligence appears in iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1
As we were commenting, a few days ago Apple decided to open a new path in development of their new operating systems. And it was none other than channeling a new development path before finishing one already created previously. That is, currently developers can access the iOS 18 beta and the iOS 18.1 beta. The difference is that Apple will add all Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1. And this movement means that Cupertino wants to polish all the artificial intelligence functions for longer, thus guaranteeing the maximum possible stability of a technology that is transversal to the entire operating system.
However, Apple Intelligence is only available in beta with waiting list in English and having the location of the device in the United States. Logically, Apple cannot add all this technology in the European Union because it does not comply with the Digital Markets Law, just as it is not available in China.
Apple Intelligence functions, in detail
Let's see below the main functions of Apple Intelligence thanks to users who have already had access to the beta and have shared their experiences on social networks and other media. First, Apple's AI has a great set of features geared toward text writing. Any text that we select from anywhere on iOS, iPadOS or macOS will have access to these functions:
- Error correction spelling and grammar, as well as sentence structure. Different suggestions are offered that the user can accept or decline.
- It also can rewrite the text to correct it or change the tone of the message without having to modify the content. There are currently three tones: Concise, Professional and Friendly.
- And finally, there is also summary options with different functions: extraction of key points, writing a summary paragraph, making a list or making a table. This function is especially relevant when we read a long email or message or a message.
Apple gave special importance to the change that Siri will undergo in iOS 18 thanks to the incorporation of Apple Intelligence, and in the iOS 18.1 beta itself you can already see some of the momentous changes that we were told about at WWDC24:
- New colorful animation and less intrusive when we access Siri, when the device listens to us the colors become more intense. The interface also adds a handwriting way to contact Siri by double-tapping at the bottom of the screen.
- It is also incorporated context management within the same situation. That is, if we start a conversation referring to a piece of information, and we continue asking questions without specifying that information, Siri will assume that what we are asking is related to the initial information. It's a way to make the conversation more fluid.
- Finally, users have realized that Siri has indexed the entire Apple support database so we can ask you something related to our device, or even make changes to the settings.
Specific functions will also be incorporated into native applications, such as Messages or Mail:
- Messages
- An option has been activated Smart Response capable of analyzing the content of the message and developing a response of what we may want to be able to say in the response.
- When we receive many messages, Apple Intelligence will summarize them and it will show them directly on the lock screen.
- E-mail:
- The summary tools are incorporated not only in the body of the text but before entering the email, in the lines that are seen in the inbox.
- Apple Intelligence is also capable of analyzing what are the urgent emails and places them first in the inbox.
- As in the Messages app, it also detects what could be quick responses through the Smart Reply function, as well as summary notifications within the lock screen, without accessing the email application itself.
More changes appear in the app Photos, one of the applications that will undergo the most changes with the arrival of the new iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. Big changes that mean changing the way we understand the organization of our photographs, and that is causing something of a stir among users who use it. They are testing. However, the AI functions that will come from Apple Intelligence are more than interesting:
- Photos allows you to create a video in the form of memories with images and videos from our gallery by simply adding a title: "The summer of 2023" or "Grandma María". The user will be able to select the mood of the video to modify the music, as well as select which photos have to be included.
- The possibility of searching for images or videos in a more colloquial format is also incorporated: "my sister dancing in a red dress", all these searches with the help of iOS for indications of what we would like to be saying.
There is another set of functions that, although they go a little more unnoticed, are still very important, especially for the regular use of our device:
- Allowed record audio and get a transcript of what was recorded directly in apps like Notes.
- A new concentration mode is added that allows reduce interruptions since Apple Intelligence filters which ones are important and launches them.
- The recording phone calls, that are stored in the Notes app where we can also take advantage and obtain a transcript of it or obtain a summary.
- And finally, Safari is capable of summarizing large articles or websites.
More information regarding availability, compatibility and more
All these features are now available in beta format with waiting list in those countries where it is available: US English only and setting the region as U.S.. Likewise, remember what are the compatible devices with this new technology:
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Pro A17
- Pro iPhone 15: Pro A17
- iPadPro: M1 and later
- iPad Air: M1 and later
- Macbook Air: M1 and later
- MacBook Pro: M1 and later
- iMacs: M1 and later
- Mac Mini: M1 and later
- Mac Studio: M1 Max and later
- MacPro: M2Ultra