Apple’s iOS 18 AI plans laid out in a new report – here are 9 new features you can expect
We’ve been hearing rumors for months that iOS 18 will be a major upgrade – perhaps one of the biggest in its history – and a new report adds some more details about what we can expect when the software is officially unveiled next month.
These details come from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, typically one of the most reliable reporters when it comes to accurately predicting Apple’s future plans and pre-leaking software and hardware announcements.
In his latest Power On newsletterGurman outlines some of the AI-infused upgrades rumored to be heading to iOS 18 (and in some cases macOS 15). Here’s what we think is coming, based on his latest update.
1. Transcribe voice memos
Using AI to convert voice memos into text is a common practice these days – the Google Pixel Recorder app does this, for example – and this is apparently one of the features coming to iOS 18. It could very well be built right into the Voice Memos app. included with iOS.
2. Photo retouching
This is also something we are now familiar with: see for example the generative AI editing tools available on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series. Possible options include moving or deleting objects, or optimizing colors (the Photos app has already been tipped for an upgrade).
3. Search better
According to Gurman, searches in iOS 18 and macOS 15 will become “faster and more reliable” thanks to AI. As previously rumored, we may see search results from more apps and improved support for natural language searches when you search for something.
4. Automatic replies
It looks like you’ll soon be able to generate smart AI responses in the Apple Mail and Apple Messages apps if you want to offload writing tasks. However, these are suggestions – you can still view and edit them before sending.
5. Safari improvements
Safari is in line for a pretty significant upgrade this year. Following up on previous leaks, Gurman says Safari will get improved web search using AI – this should deliver more relevant results, in addition to the ability to get quick summaries of the websites you visit.
6. A more natural Siri
As previously reported, it will become easier to talk to Siri and come up with better responses – more like a person and less like a bot. Siri will provide more “natural-sounding interactions based on Apple’s own major language models,” according to Gurman’s article.
7. AI-generated emojis
One AI-related feature mentioned in Gurman’s report that we haven’t heard of before is an AI emoji machine. Apparently this will instantly display custom emojis based on what you type, so you never have to search for an emoji to match your message again.
8. Smart summaries
Expect Smart Summaries to be everywhere in iOS 18: emails, web pages, messages, and more. This is something that has been leaked before and may include notifications. If it works as it sounds, the feature should save you a lot of reading time.
9. Home screen adjustments
This isn’t strictly AI related, but following up on what he said before, Gurman states that the app shortcuts on iOS 18’s home screen can be arranged in any way you want – not just in a grid – and that their colors can be changed to make them even more personal. a certain theme.
There’s likely more to come once iOS 18 finally sees the light of day – tighter integration between Calendar and Reminders, improved math features in Notes, smoother song transitions in Apple Music – but the features mentioned above are the ones Gurman specifically points to in his new report .
Apple AI and OpenAI ChatGPT
Gurman’s new report also sheds some light on rumors that Apple is working with OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT and Dall-E. Apparently, Apple’s own AI models – both stored on the iPhone and in the cloud – will be used to perform the core AI tasks mentioned above, but they won’t extend to powering a full-fledged AI chatbot.
To that end, Gurman says, Apple will work with OpenAI to give users the option of ChatGPT on the iPhone. It’s not clear how this will differ from simply using the ChatGPT app for iOS, but deeper integration with the iPhone software is likely on the way. The partnership will be announced on June 10 at WWDC 2024, Gurman says, alongside all these new features for iOS and macOS.
However, according to Gurman, Apple doesn’t want to rely solely on OpenAI – so discussions are still ongoing to offer Google Gemini as an AI chatbot option as well. However, that won’t be discussed at the WWDC 2024 event in June. Other chatbots can also be added later.
This new report also states that Apple will emphasize the privacy of its AI tools – both on-device and in the cloud – compared to those of the likes of Google and Meta. Finally, Gurman mentions that the AI features in iOS 18 may have a “preview” label, indicating that they are still in development.