On September 9, Apple globally unveiled the iPhone 16 series during the "It's Glowtime" event. As anticipation grew for a stable release of iOS 18, designed to support Apple Intelligence, it was expected that the new iPhone 16 models would offer this AI capability. However, these devices do not come with Apple’s AI features pre-installed. Apple Intelligence is now accessible to the general public, albeit with some terms and conditions. With the launch of the initial public betas for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, Apple is rolling out its eagerly anticipated generative AI features supported by iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices. For the uninitiated, a public beta is seen as more stable than a developer beta, although it might still have some bugs or issues. It is usually much closer to the final stable version, which is anticipated to be available in October.
To try out iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or macOS Sequoia 15.1, you must first register in Apple’s beta software program. The process is straightforward: visit Apple’s beta software website, sign up using your Apple ID, and you will be set to download the update. You can access it by going to Settings > General > Software Update> Beta Updates.
However, not every Apple device can utilise the latest Apple Intelligence functionalities. Only a limited number of iPhone models and devices are eligible. These include the iPhone 15 Pro and the recently released iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. Due to memory limitations, the iPhone 15 is not included. Moreover, only iPads and Macs running M1 processors are supported. Users can experience these features by installing the iPadOS 18.1 public beta on their iPads or the macOS 15.1 public beta on their Macs, giving them early access to Apple's cutting-edge AI and productivity tools across various devices.
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- Revamped Siri: Siri receives a redesigned UI and improved natural language processing capabilities in iOS 18.1 public beta.
- Movie Memory: Based on user descriptions, this function leverages AI to create videos using images and videos stored on the device.
- Photos Clean Up Tool: Apple's new Photos Clean Up feature enables users to eliminate unwanted elements or distractions from their photos, giving the impression they were never present. Similar to Google’s Magic Editor, this tool serves a similar purpose. However, Apple takes a different approach, prioritising capturing and preserving authentic memories rather than artificially recreating them.
- Rewriting, Summarising, and Proofreading Text: The Rewrite feature lets you generate alternative versions of your text, offering useful suggestions or allowing you to tailor it for specific audiences. For example, it can help craft a more formal tone for an email. Additionally, the proofreading tool checks for grammar and spelling errors, while the summarisation feature condenses lengthy documents into clear, concise summaries, making the key points easier to understand.
