Apple Intelligence Rolls Out with iOS 18.1 in Europe This April
The initial set of features includes AI writing tools, photo memories, and the initial phase of a Siri redesign.
Apple Intelligence: AI Takes Its First Official Steps
A highly anticipated moment has arrived: Apple Intelligence debuts publicly with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. Unlike typical “point-one” updates, which usually focus on minor features and bug fixes, Apple’s AI capabilities were not fully ready for the initial launch of iOS 18 and others.
Mac users in the EU can access Apple Intelligence in English (US) with macOS Sequoia 15.1. Starting in April, Apple Intelligence features will roll out to iPhone and iPad users in the EU. This includes key functionalities such as Writing Tools, Genmoji, a redesigned Siri with enhanced linguistic understanding, ChatGPT integration, and more.
Illustration Image: iOS181
New Features of Apple’s AI
Apple Intelligence introduces itself via a notification from the tech giant. Initial generative AI features you can explore include writing tools for proofreading and rewriting, as well as text summarization.
Live transcriptions are available for phone calls and audio files in the Notes app. Apple can also generate useful summaries of these transcriptions. Additionally, Apple can reorganize your photos and videos around key events such as trips and special occasions in the revamped Photos app, where you can also create your own memories.
A New Era for Siri
The beginnings of a Siri overhaul are evident. You can now type your queries and questions to the previously voice-only assistant. If you still prefer speaking, Siri should now understand your requests even if you stutter or interrupt yourself. The user interface for Siri has changed, as evident by a luminous border around the screen when activated.
Availability and Outlook
Apple Intelligence is currently available on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 range. M-series iPads and Macs also support Apple Intelligence, as does the new A17 Pro-powered iPad mini.
Access is presently restricted to those who have set their device and Siri language to US English. Apple Intelligence will expand to more countries and languages in December. Apple does not plan to broadly offer AI tools in the European Union or mainland China immediately due to regulatory issues, although discussions with officials from these markets were ongoing as of September.
Beyond Apple Intelligence, iOS 18.1 introduces support for new features, such as a hearing test and the ability to use AirPods Pro as over-the-counter hearing aids. It also simplifies the process of changing the primary email address associated with your Apple account.