Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off this week. - Soon, the upcoming iOS 18 update will introduce new features to some iPhones, but not all models.
Apple is rejuvenating its competition in the AI arena with the latest releases of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. Although the tech giant has long played a leading role in the AI race, it has recently lagged behind Google and others. Now, Apple is making waves with some intriguing ideas. Unfortunately, only a select group of iPhone and iPad users will have access to the most groundbreaking AI features. However, the rest can also anticipate something fresh.
iOS 18: Apple's Grand AI Attack
Instead of just catching up, Apple is reframing AI for itself - introducing its own Apple Intelligence, a clever twist on the English abbreviation for AI, AI. Apple's new AI should not only alter user experience with the iPhone drastically. One notable difference is its attention to users' privacy, a critical aspect often overlooked by competitors.
Apple's main selling point is performing AI calculations on the device itself. For more complex tasks, data is sent to the cloud, yet processed in a highly secure manner, unlike Google, Amazon, or Microsoft, who store them. This approach benefits privacy enthusiasts with AI applications that operate even sans the internet. However, this perk is reserved for an exclusive group of users equipped with an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max and a Mac with Apple's M-chip. Apple explains the need for increased processing power but fails to address why the secure cloud approach is absent. For many Apple aficionados, this might come as a significant blow.
Friendlier Siri
Siri, Apple's maiden voice assistant introduced back in 2011, has been undergoing drastic changes with iOS 18. Although it has fallen behind competitors, Siri is expected to transform, comprehending sophisticated commands and gaining more power in the system. Siri's potential to control almost all aspects of the iPhone while it lifts its shell from an app is extremely promising.
Nevertheless, iPhone 15 Pro owners in Germany will need to wait due to Siri being initially available only in English, with more languages set to follow "in the course of the next year."
Smarter System
Despite the hiccups, the system has become smarter, extending to non-iPhone 15 Pro users as well. The revamped photo app can sort images and perform various tasks, while the email app distinguishes crucial emails or generates custom stickers. These AI-based advancements also expedite lesser-known functions. For example, if you receive several notifications from the same group chat, a summarized version of the chat group's activity will indicate what's new since your last peek.
Apple's iOS now integrates ChatGPT, facilitating tasks like composing emails and answering questions. This AI-powered partner caters to privacy concerns, requesting permission before transferring data.
Calculator finally arrives on iPad
The iPad has been graced with a feature it's long overdue: a functional calculator. After 15 years of waiting, the updated version incorporates the iPad into a "smart notebook" of sorts, leveraging AI for a seamless user experience. While it performs conventional tasks, a feature dubbed Math Notes recognizes handwritten math equations and formats them with ease. The calculator is an upgraded version of the original tool, supporting more complex calculations.
Customization meets AI
Since the iPhone's launch, the long-standing demand for apps rearrangements on the Home Screen has been answered. With iOS 18, users can now position apps as they please, making way for personalized organization. Placeholders for untidy app icons also become available. The icon customization extends to colors, letting people color-code their apps. However, applying custom colors to individual icons isn't yet a possibility. Entire Home Screens can be colored in this manner.
IOS 18 further introduces an adjustable Control Center, personalizing it based on personal preferences and favorite app functions. The Home Screen buttons can also be customized to display specific commands.
In detail, iOS features numerous enhancements. Instead of mobile data, the satellite connection available for emergency calls on newer iPhones can transfer messages. Apps categorized as sensitive can be hidden and reappear only upon successful FaceID authentication.
Apart from these, future updates might unveil additional AI-driven features, bolstering Apple's promise to reclaim its ground in the AI race.
Apple unveiled a series of upgrades focused on accessibility in their upcoming iOS 18 and iPadOS releases. For individuals with disabilities, the new iPhone will support direct control with eye tracking, while improved speech recognition will better understand those with atypical speech. Speech shortcuts will also enhance the experience of using these devices via verbal command. Pre-release versions are set to become available in July, followed by the official update in the autumn.
