On September 16, Apple began the global rollout of iOS 18, following its preview at the WWDC 2024 event. With the recent launch of the iPhone 16 series, users can now explore many of the new and enhanced features of the update.
However, one of the most anticipated features, Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI tools, will not be immediately available. Users will have to wait until October for the iOS 18.1 update to access these AI capabilities.
Reports indicate that the full rollout of Apple Intelligence will be staggered, with advanced features being gradually introduced by the end of 2024. Here's an overview of the timeline for the Apple Intelligence features on iOS 18:
iOS 18.1 Update (October)
Currently in beta testing for developers, iOS 18.1 is expected to bring several AI-powered features, including:
- AI-generated notification summaries
- Smart replies for apps like Mail and Messages
- AI tools for writing and summarizing content in Safari
- Call recording and transcription
- AI-based movie creation in the Photos app
- A "Clean Up" tool for removing objects and people from images
Additionally, Siri will see some improvements, though major updates to its AI capabilities are not expected until later.
iOS 18.2 Update (December)
According to analyst Mark Gurman, the iOS 18.2 update will likely introduce the *Image Playground* and *Genmoji* AI features. These tools, showcased at WWDC, utilize Apple’s AI image generation capabilities. Image Playground is a standalone app for generating unique images via AI, which can be controlled by Siri voice prompts. Genmoji allows users to create personalized or imaginative emojis using AI.
iOS 18.3 Update (2025)
As of now, no major AI features are expected with the iOS 18.3 update, which will likely be a smaller release focusing on bug fixes and minor improvements.
iOS 18.4 Update (March 2025)
The iOS 18.4 update is anticipated to introduce significant advancements to Siri’s AI functionality, including:
- Personal context awareness
- On-screen awareness
- Enhanced in-app controls
Siri may also be integrated with OpenAI's ChatGPT for handling complex tasks. Additionally, this update is expected to expand language support for Apple Intelligence, adding languages like Chinese, Japanese, French, and Spanish.
With these updates, Apple is poised to revolutionize the iPhone experience through its advanced AI capabilities, rolling out incrementally over the next several months.
