Apple has released the public beta of its latest mobile operating system, iOS 18.2, to the public, featuring a range of exciting artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities that were previously exclusive to developers. Now, regular users can also get an early taste of these features.
The new update includes an AI emoji generator app called Genmoji, an Image Playground image generation app, a ChatGPT integration with Siri, and visual search capabilities using the iPhone 16 camera.
These new features are collectively known as "Apple Intelligence," cleverly abbreviated as "AI." Apple Intelligence is based on large language models, aiming to provide users with smarter Siri services, text writing and proofreading assistants, and image generation capabilities. Additionally, third-party developers can leverage Apple Intelligence to implement more powerful features in their own applications, offering users a richer experience.
Users can access the new ChatGPT extension via Siri, asking questions, composing texts, generating images, and more. If logged in, the feature also saves history, and paid subscribers can use more advanced ChatGPT functions. This collaboration benefits both parties: ChatGPT gains more exposure through iPhone's vast user base, while Apple acquires a more powerful virtual assistant.
On the iPhone 16, users can press the newly added camera control button to activate visual intelligence features, using the camera lens to search and identify real-world objects and locations. However, not all new features are immediately available. Some require users to queue for access. Apple Intelligence must be enabled (it is off by default), and users must also apply for access to additional image generation features. Apple has not disclosed how long users will need to wait, but it is expected to be several days to weeks, primarily for AI safety considerations.
Before the release of iOS 18.2, Apple had already introduced some AI features in iOS 18.1, such as writing tools and notification summaries. Additionally, Siri's appearance has been updated, with glowing edges on the screen, offering a fresh visual experience.
Alongside the iOS 18.2 public beta, Apple has also released the first public betas of iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, and tvOS 18.2.
Key Points:
🌟 New AI Features: iOS 18.2 public beta introduces multiple AI applications, including an emoji generator and image generation tools.
📅 Feature Wait Times: Some new features require users to queue for access, with estimated wait times ranging from several days to weeks.
🤖 Siri Upgrade: Siri integrates with ChatGPT, offering a smarter assistant experience capable of composing texts, generating images, and more.