The iPhone 16 launching was a fiddling more complicated than usual for Apple . Despite framing the entire merchandising movement around the launching of Apple Intelligence , the AI - powered features were nowhere to be found when consumer finally let their manus on the latest iPhones .
However , that ’s all interchange with today ’s release of iOS 18.1 , which will finally allow consumers to get at the first smattering ofApple Intelligence features .
I would say it ’s usable worldwide , but that would be stretch the truth ; the Apple Intelligence features are uncommitted in the US and other neighborhood , albeit only if you interchange your iPhone ’s region and language to US English . UK English support is coming , but that wo n’t be useable until iOS 18.2 .
Oh , and as most of us are already aware , it ’s only useable on theiPhone 16 scope , along with theiPhone 15 Proand15 Pro Max , along with late Macs and iPads .
That all said , the first iteration of Apple Intelligence feature does bring something new and exciting to the iPhone experience , though some are more impressive than others . Here are the first six features you should test once you ’ve installed the iOS 18.1 update , base on my metre beta prove the update over the past few weeks .
Notification Summaries
notice Summaries have made headlines in the past few weeks , and not always for the good of reasons , with some name that the summaries can be too clinical ( especially with break - up messages , it seems ) and sometimes misunderstand the linguistic context of the apprisal .
However , despite the fact that sum-up can sometimes be misinterpreted by the AI – one of the number with GenAI in worldwide – there is a lot of exercise to be had from the feature , especially when it comes to longsighted tilt of electronic mail and busy group confabulation .
The idea is that Apple Intelligence will scan through all your incoming notifications and sum up them into a couple of sentences , hopefully condense the effect of the presentment without you have to scan each individual substance .
The catch is that it ’s not enabled by default in iOS 18.1 . Instead , you need to go to configurations > Notifications > Summarise preview to activate the feature . It ’s either on or off properly now , but Apple is introduce the ( much - necessitate ) power to decide which eccentric of notification should be summarised in theiOS 18.2 update , coming a fiddling after down the short letter .
Clean Up tool
One of the more popular USA of GenAI is photo editing . It ’s something we ’ve seen from unnumberable other companionship , with everyone from Adobe Photoshop to Google ’s Pixel range espouse some kind of GenAI - powered editing tool , with most focussed on removing distracting feature from photograph you ’ve film .
Well , that ’s finally also available on iPhone with the initial loss of Apple Intelligence in the form of the Clean Up tool , nestled within the redesigned Photos app .
The approximation is pretty simple-minded , as with other variants of the tool ; merely intercept , scribble or encircle whatever you want to remove from a picture you ’ve taken and Apple Intelligence will try and fill up the spread in the picture free-base on what ’s around it .
It crop good with elementary background – intricate detail like brickwork can sometimes look a little odd – but it can help oneself take away masses in the ground of your shot for an overall cleaner face .
To try the Clean Up tool , go to the Photos app , knock the Edit button on the photo you want to edit out and knock the new Clean Up icon .
Writing Tools
If you ’ve ever written an e-mail or text substance that just did n’t sound quite mightily , you ’ll appreciate Apple ’s new suite of Writing Tools available in iOS 18.1 .
It can not only proof your clump of text and paint a picture edits to improve the flow and clarity , but it can rewrite it altogether with either a friendly or professional tincture .
you may also make things shorter and uncomplicated to concentrate with the Concise rewrite , and if you use the lineament in the Notes app , you may also generate a unforesightful summary , or key point or reformat it in the signifier of a bulletpointed list or even a tabular array , depending on the content .
It ’s not available throughout the oxygen , most rife in first - political party apps like Messages and Notes , but it ’s a handy addition nonetheless .
Record and transcribe phone calls
This has been a characteristic on Android smartphones – particularly Pixels – for a twain of age , and it was something I wish the iPhone would adopt .
Well , it looks like my wish has finally arrive true , as Apple has introduced the ability to not only criminal record headphone calls in iOS 18.1 , but also the option of transcribing the entire call and saving both audio and text in a Note on your iPhone for later use .
This can then be used with the aforementioned writing tool to sire summaries , slug gunpoint list and more bet on what you were discussing in the call .
To immortalize a call , simply tap the fresh icon in the top - provide corner when on a phone call . Be warned though : the recipient will be cognizant that you ’re read , so be clear and communicate whenever you want to get down read .
Create movies from a short description
The Clean Up tool is n’t the only young GenAI - powered improver to the Photos app ; Apple ’s video creation feature has also had a much - need upgrade .
Now , in addition to Apple suggesting television compilations , you could separate your iPhone what you desire your TV to count like in peachy detail , and with natural language too .
For example , I tell my iPhone I need a little compilation of videos from my recent stumble to Hawaii with an up-and-coming look , and within seconds , I had exactly that – terminated with an pollyannaish soundtrack – quick for sharing online .
It ’s not going to replace dedicated video editing apps like CapCut for sharing societal videos , but it makes it way soft to share low movies with champion and family without much movement .
To make your own , open up the Photos app , scroll down to the Memories discussion section and tap produce a Memory Movie .
Reduce your interruptions
iPhones have had Focus manner since the introduction of iOS 16 , allowing you to basically determine dissimilar profiles for your iPhone with different normal around notifications , layouts and more . It ’s a very handy characteristic that keep down distractions when working , exercising and pretty much anything else you coiffure one up for , but it ’s a very manual physical process .
iOS 18.1 make it way easier to quieten your telephone without going full atomic with a full Do Not Disturb , instead using AI to analyse your incoming telling and only give notice you of things that it deems important or seasonable . This should reduce pestering notifications from apps and game when you ’re trying to center without missing out on more significant alarum like calls from loved ones or the smart buzzer ringing .
It ’s somewhat easy to enable too ; simply get at the notification centre , tap Focus and beg the unexampled Reduce Interruptions fashion .
Better things to come
Now , this is only the first batch of Apple Intelligence features to be released , with arguably the good and most hefty feature – like ChatGPT integration , a smarter Siri , Genmoji and Image Playgrounds – yet to make an appearing .
With that said , I only expect the Apple Intelligence experience to get better from here , with this initial bent of feature article more like a starter before the toothsome main course arrives in a few month .
