OPINION : Apple has n’t on the nose slouched with the past few generation of iOS , introducing large newfangled features like customisable ignition lock screen that freshen the feeling of even old iPhones . However , previous update could pale in equivalence to what Apple has planned for iOS 18 if rumours are to be believed – and I ca n’t wait .

And when you consider how transformative some iOS updates have been , whether that was the switch from skeuomorphism in iOS 7 to the long - await introduction of widgets in iOS 14 , updates that have had a significant impact on the iOS experience , one ca n’t aid but wonder what Apple might have plan for iOS 18 .

Thankfully , I do n’t have to swear on read tea leaves or look into a crystal bollock to get an idea of what Apple has up its sleeve courtesy of the internet rumour mill .

The first feature is n’t even a rumour , asApple has explicitly confirmedthat the feature will make an coming into court on iPhones “ later ” in 2024 , which in my mind at least , aligns well with iOS 18 .

That lineament is the much - request RCS support , which is n’t a vainglorious deal for iPhone owners but it ’s a huge whole step ahead for Android users . RCS essentially allows iPhone drug user to send in high spirits - res photo , videos and audio message to Android users and enjoy benefits like register reports , Wi - Fi electronic messaging and improved chemical group chat support without relying on the dated SMS and MMS protocol .

It ’s not quite the same as open iMessage to the Android crowd , but it ’s the next best thing and fundamentally means that iOS users will no longer necessitate to apply apps like WhatsApp or Telegram to bask most of the aforementioned features when messaging an Android user .

That pales in comparison to the heavy Io 18 feature however . Generative AI is a freehanded talking point at the second , specially with the late release of the Galaxy S24 roam with theGenAI - powered Galaxy AI , and Tim Cook himself has confirm thatApple is go on GenAI internallywith a reveal curing for sometime in 2024 .

Mark Gurmansuggests that Apple could expend GenAI to “ improve how both Siri and the Messages app can field doubtfulness and auto - complete sentences ” while teasing GenAI support for first - party apps like Apple Music , Pages and Keynote .

More info on GenAI came from areport from The Information , claiming that Apple is planning to incorporate tumid language models ( LLMs ) into Siri to provide not only a more ChatGPT - panache conversational experience but one that can automate complex tasks .

If you ’ve yet to practice ChatGPT , Gemini , Microsoft CoPilot or any other GenAI - powered Old World chat help , you might not understand just how transformative this could be to the iOS experience .

Even if we go by what Samsung ’s Galaxy AI bring to the S24 range – real - time version in earpiece calls , rewrite texts and emails , transcribing and summarising interpreter recordings and even using generative fill to edit out photos , all without the pauperization for an internet connection – it could completely change the way you use your iPhone .

Of naturally , with Apple being Apple , I have no doubt that it ’s work on alone new manner to utilize GenAI that we ’ve not seen until now .

Apple lean to reveal its big annual updates at its developer - centre WWDC upshot which usually takes place in former June , so we do n’t have that long to see what Apple has been working on for Io 18 for ourselves . I just hope it ’s as exciting as it ’s rumoured to be .