iOS 18: Five most exciting new changes coming in Apple’s huge iPhone update – including controversial ‘cheater’s paradise’ feature

Apple’s new iOS update is just weeks away and more details are emerging about what looks to be the biggest update yet.

The software was first announced in June at the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) and is expected to be available on all devices in mid-September.

Apple calls the AI ​​integration with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, called “Apple Intelligence,” the top feature of the update.

This feature brings a lot of changes to the operating system, including new and improved Siri capabilities, the ability to create custom emojis, and more.

But the change that made the most headlines was a new app hiding feature. This feature has been dubbed a “cheater’s paradise” because it allows people to hide certain apps (like dating apps) in locked folders.

iOS 18 also brings a host of new features, such as intelligent writing tools, custom image generation, and improved privacy protections.

Feeling overwhelmed by the wave of changes coming to your device this fall? Here’s DailyMail.com’s list of the five most exciting features to look out for.

1. AI-enhanced Siri

Apple’s new AI system will affect nearly every aspect of the operating system, including Siri, Apple’s seemingly underwhelming digital assistant.

Critics of Siri have complained about its limited capabilities and frequent errors in understanding voice commands. But that should change with Apple Intelligence.

“With the power of Apple Intelligence, Siri takes a giant leap forward, becoming more natural, contextually relevant and personalized,” said Apple.

Siri’s new AI-enhanced language understanding capabilities allow users to speak to Siri more naturally.

They also get the ability to type via Siri instead of relying on voice commands.

Siri will also gain a new understanding of the unique way you use your phone. In addition, Siri will now have “onscreen awareness,” allowing it to access information on your phone and complete tasks within and across apps.

Additionally, Siri has more product knowledge about your phone’s features and settings. This means Siri can explain different functions based on what’s happening on the screen.

2. ‘Genmojis’

Ever wished you could create your own emojis? With Apple’s new ‘Genmoji’ feature, now you can!

“Taking emoji to a whole new level, users can create an original Genmoji to express themselves,” Apple said.

Genmoji lets users create custom emojis using AI. All you have to do is type a description of the emoji you want to create, and Genmoji will quickly generate it for you.

According to Apple, users can even create Genmojis of friends and family using a photo of them.

Just like regular emojis, you can add Genmojis to text or share them as a sticker or reaction in a Tapback.

During WWDC, Apple gave a sneak peek at the Genmojis that users can create.

Some of the wildest included a surfing T-Rex in a tutu and an angry piece of cake. Which crazy Genmojis will you make?

3. ‘Tap to cash’

The update also includes a handy new way to send money to other iPhone users.

The new feature, called “Tap to Cash,” will allow users to send and receive Apple money by simply holding two iPhones close together.

This would streamline digital payments as there would no longer be a need to share phone numbers or email addresses to make a transaction.

According to Apple, it can be especially useful for paying someone back at a dinner party or buying something at a garage sale.

In theory, Tap to Cash offers a simpler peer-to-peer payment system compared to leading P2P apps like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App.

Additionally, Apple doesn’t take a percentage of your Tap to Cash or Tap to Pay transactions, unlike some other services that change fees.

But whether Apple’s new feature will also infringe on these payment services remains to be seen.

Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, said at WWDC that Apple “continues to replace your physical wallet.”

The feature is available for iPhone users running iOS 18 and Apple Watch users running WatchOS 11.

4. Hidden apps

Do you have an app on your phone that you’d rather keep private? iOS 18 gives users the ability to hide or lock certain apps on their phone.

Locked apps still appear on your home screen, but can only be opened with Face ID. If someone gets into your phone, they won’t be able to access all your private information.

And if you want to be even more secure, you can “hide” an app by moving it to a locked folder. Anyone with access to your phone won’t even be able to see the apps in the folder.

Locked app content, like messages, emails, or notifications, won’t even show up in search. You can only access it with Face ID.

According to Apple, the goal of this feature is to “give users the assurance” that information “cannot be unintentionally seen by others,” but not everyone sees it that way.

On social media, some users expressed concern that the feature could encourage infidelity in relationships, even calling it a “cheater’s paradise.”

5. Chat GPT Integration

If you want even more generative AI features through the integration of Apple Intelligence, iOS 18 is the solution.

This update also includes integration with Chat GPT, OpenAI’s chatbot and virtual assistant.

Siri can use Chat GPT to answer questions. However, users are asked for permission before sending questions, documents, or photos to the chatbot.

Chat GPT will also be available in Apple’s system-wide Writing Tools to help users generate written content on any topic. Apple will also roll out Compose, the Chat GPT-powered image generator.

Users concerned about their privacy when using the integrated Chat GPT features can rest assured that their IP addresses are hidden and that OpenAI is not logging requests, Apple said.