Being a new iPhone 16 pro owner/user in the UK, I cannot wait for all the full Apple Intelligence AI features to be rolled out. So many possibilities.
As the RC beta of version 18.1 is now out, I downloaded it. This is the last version before general release so should be the same as the release next week. After downloading, I was able to apply for Apple Intelligence usage. Quite a simple process by changing the Siri language to US within the Siri and Apple intelligence menu and then changing preferred language to English US in the languages and region settings.
A waiting list option in Siri was requested and access was granted in about 5 minutes.
The update boasted the following features and here are my thoughts.
- Writing Tools
- Clean Up in Photos
- Create a Memory movie in Photos
- Natural language search in Photos
- Notification summaries
- Reduce Interruptions Focus
- Intelligent Breakthrough & Silencing in Focus
- Priority messages in Mail
- Smart Reply in Mail and Messages
- Summaries in Mail and Messages
- Siri enhancements, including product knowledge, more resilient request handling, a new look and feel, a more natural voice, the ability to type to Siri and more
The writing tools are embedded in many areas of the phone, including messages, notes, and mail. It is not always obvious, and sometimes you need to highlight text and select an option for “writing tools”. You are then presented with options from just checking punctuation, etc., through to rewriting your response in a friendly tone, or professional, etc. A useful function, but while I will use it in my phone, I promise not to use it for writing blog posts. Some of the suggested responses will certainly prove useful.
The clean up option in photos is interesting but a work in progress. Certainly works well enough to remove some background objects. It does need more work to improve though. The memory movie in photos was also a little hit and miss. You type the subject of a photo movie and Apple builds it for you. However, certainly searching for photos is improved with AI to find photos. A test searching for “hospital” correctly identified some pictures on my phone.
The notification summaries on the lock screen and summaries of emails is helpful. The mail app summaries being particularly useful. When responding to email and messages, your phone can even write a smart response for you. All very clever and works well. The mail app now also prioritising the most important messages.
Siri is expected to get smarter but other than a new look, Siri is pretty much the same currently though it is able to be more contextual now when responding. More Siri updates are promised.
Lastly, the new reduce interruptions focus could be handy. When I tried it, I gained minimum notifications. Could be handy in certain circumstances.
Overall, I am impressed and the writing options will be the most useful and time saving new additions. I am looking forward to see further new features in future and how current ones improve.
Have you tried Apple Intelligence and if so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments.
