Apple Intelligence is here — well, kind of. You can play around with the new suite of AI features and test them. However, it's not officially out to the public just yet.
You won't be able to test all of the Apple Intelligence features the Cupertino-based tech giant introduced at WWDC 2024, but you'll get a taste of your iPhone's AI smarts via the iOS 18.1 developer beta that dropped on Monday. You may be wondering, "Which Apple Intelligence features, exactly, will I get the pleasure of experimenting with in this new beta version?" We've got the answers for you.
6 Apple Intelligence features you can use right now
Firstly, you'll need to have an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max to use Apple Intelligence. (Remember that this is a beta, so you should consider backing up your iPhone first because it's likely not quite polished nor refined.)
With that being said, here are the Apple Intelligence tools you can explore right now on the iOS 18.1 developer beta:
Writing tools
Writing Tools allow you to rewrite, proofread, and summarize anywhere in the operating system where there is a text field.
Writing tools can also help you find the right tone, whether you're seeking a more professional vibe or a friendlier resonance, Apple Intelligence is designed to help. This convenient feature is automatically available in Apple apps — and third-party apps that use Apple's standard text controls.
Apple Intelligence-powered Siri
Anyone running iOS 18.1 can now use the new Apple Intelligence-powered Siri. Apple's assistant has a new redesign — you can now see an elegant, glowing light that wraps around your iPhone screen. And as you might have guessed, Siri now has advanced capabilities. For example, even if you stumble over your words, Siri should still understand the gist of what you're saying.
For example, saying something like, "“Siri, set an timer. No, oops, I meant an alarm. Wake me up at 3:45 p.m. Actually, no, let's make that 4:10 p.m.," and it will still follow through with your core request. 15 minutes It can also maintain context from one request to the next.
And finally, Siri was more well-versed in product knowledge. For example, if you have no idea what a particular iPhone feature is called, describe it to Siri — and it will likely nail it.
Apple Intelligence-powered Mail
In the Mail app, you'll have the ability to tap into Apple Intelligence to get summaries of messages in your inbox. You will also be able to experiment with the new smart reply feature, which gives you AI-powered suggestions and recommendations on how to best respond to your co-workers, friends, loved ones, and more.
There is also on-device categorization, so your mail will be organized into different sections, including "Primary," "Transactions," "Updates," and "Promotions."
Auto-summarized notifications
On iOS 18.1, you'll be able to test the new Apple-Intelligence-powered notifications, which can now be automatically summarized. In other words, you'll get a quick "Cliffnotes," if you will, of your texts and emails.
Natural language search for Photos app
If you have a massive library of pictures in the Photos app, you no longer have to scroll endlessly to find that one snapshot you forgot to organize into one of your albums.
Instead, you can use natural-language search to find the one you're looking for.
Call recording
We've been waiting 17 years for iPhone to offer call recording capabilities. Finally, in 2024, the Cupertino-based tech giant has dropped the feature in the current iOS 18.1 developer beta. Check out our full guide on how to use the new Call Recording perk.
How to turn on Apple Intelligence
Once you've got the iOS 18.1 developer beta installed on your iPhone, head to Settings. Next, navigate to Apple Intelligence & Siri > Join the Apple Intelligence waitlist.
After a few hours or so, or perhaps even shorter than that, you should gain access to Apple Intelligence.
Need a business app or interested in our reseller program? Reach out!