Apple Launches iPhone into AI Era with iOS 18 Update

Apple launches the iPhone into the AI era with free software update

Apple is releasing a free software update that will inject its first dose of artificial intelligence into its iPhone 16 lineup as the trendsetting company tries to catch up with technology's latest craze. The upgrade to the iOS 18 operating system on Monday arrives more than a month after four iPhone 16 models equipped with the special computer chip needed to power the AI features went on sale at prices ranging from $800 to $1,200. Last year's premium models -- the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max -- also possess a processor that will enable the AI technology after the software update is installed. Recent versions of Apple's iPad and Mac computer also can be updated with the software. Countries outside the U.S. won't be getting the AI software for their iPhones until next year at a date still to be determined. Apple spent the past five weeks testing the AI software among an audience of iPhone owners who signed up to help the company fine tune the technology. The AI infusion is supposed to transform Apple's often bumbling virtual assistant Siri into a more conversational, versatile and colorful companion whose presence will be denoted by a glowing light that circles the iPhone's screen as requests are being handled. While Apple is promising Siri will be able to perform more tasks and be less prone to becoming confused, it won't be able to interact with other apps installed on the iPhone until another software update comes out at a still-unspecified date. Other AI features included in this software update will handle a variety of writing and proofreading tasks, summarize the content of emails and other documents. The AI also will provide a variety of editing tools to alter the appearance of photos and make it easier to find old pictures. Other AI tricks still to come in future software updates will include the ability to create customized emojis on the fly or conjure other fanciful imagery upon request. Apple also plans to eventually enable its AI suite to get a helping hand from OpenAI's ChatGPT when users want it. Most of the AI features Apple introduced Monday are already available on Android-powered smartphones that Samsung and Google released earlier this year. In an effort to distinguish its approach from the early leaders in AI, the iPhone's suite of new technology is being marketed as "Apple Intelligence." Apple is also promising its AI features will do a far better job protecting the privacy of iPhone owners by either running the technology on device or corralled in a fortress-like data center when some requests have to be processed remotely. Because most iPhones currently in use around the world don't have the computer chip needed for Apple's AI, the technology is expected to drive huge demand for the new models during the holiday season and into next year, too. That's the main reason why Apple's stock price has soared 18% since the Cupertino, California, previewed its AI strategy at a conference in early June. The run-up has increased Apple's market value by about $500 billion, catapulting it closer to becoming the first U.S. company to be worth $4 trillion. Apple will give investors their first glimpse at how the iPhone 16 is faring Thursday when the company posts quarterly financial information for the July-September quarter -- a period that includes the first few days the new models were on sale. Demand for the high-end iPhone 15 models ticked upward as prices for them fell and the excitement surrounding Apple's entrance into the AI market ramped up, according to an assessment of the smartphone market during the most recent quarter by the research firm International Data Corp. Apple's iPhone shipments rose 3.5 percent from the same time last year to 56 million worldwide during the July-September period, second only to Samsung, according to IDC. The question now is whether Apple's gradual release of more AI will cause owners of older iPhones to splurge on the new models during the holidays, "future-proofing their purchases for the long term," said IDC analyst Nabila Popal.

Apple launches the iPhone into the AI era with free software update

Apple is releasing a free software update that will inject its first dose of artificial intelligence into its iPhone 16 lineup as the trendsetting company tries to catch up with technology's latest craze. The upgrade to the iOS 18 operating system on Monday arrives more than a month after four iPhone 16 models equipped with the special computer chip needed to power the AI features went on sale at prices ranging from $800 to $1,200. Last year's premium models -- the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max -- also possess a processor that will enable the AI technology after the software update is installed. Recent versions of Apple's iPad and Mac computer also can be updated with the software. Countries outside the U.S. won't be getting the AI software for their iPhones until next year at a date still to be determined. Apple spent the past five weeks testing the AI software among an audience of iPhone owners who signed up to help the company fine tune the technology. The AI infusion is supposed to transform Apple's often bumbling virtual assistant Siri into a more conversational, versatile and colorful companion whose presence will be denoted by a glowing light that circles the iPhone's screen as requests are being handled. While Apple is promising Siri will be able to perform more tasks and be less prone to becoming confused, it won't be able to interact with other apps installed on the iPhone until another software update comes out at a still-unspecified date. Other AI features included in this software update will handle a variety of writing and proofreading tasks, summarize the content of emails and other documents. The AI also will provide a variety of editing tools to alter the appearance of photos and make it easier to find old pictures. Other AI tricks still to come in future software updates will include the ability to create customized emojis on the fly or conjure other fanciful imagery upon request. Apple also plans to eventually enable its AI suite to get a helping hand from OpenAI's ChatGPT when users want it. Most of the AI features Apple introduced Monday are already available on Android-powered smartphones that Samsung and Google released earlier this year. In an effort to distinguish its approach from the early leaders in AI, the iPhone's suite of new technology is being marketed as "Apple Intelligence." Apple is also promising its AI features will do a far better job protecting the privacy of iPhone owners by either running the technology on device or corralled in a fortress-like data center when some requests have to be processed remotely. Because most iPhones currently in use around the world don't have the computer chip needed for Apple's AI, the technology is expected to drive huge demand for the new models during the holiday season and into next year, too. That's the main reason why Apple's stock price has soared 18% since the Cupertino, California, previewed its AI strategy at a conference in early June. The run-up has increased Apple's market value by about $500 billion, catapulting it closer to becoming the first U.S. company to be worth $4 trillion. Apple will give investors their first glimpse at how the iPhone 16 is faring Thursday when the company posts quarterly financial information for the July-September quarter -- a period that includes the first few days the new models were on sale. Demand for the high-end iPhone 15 models ticked upward as prices for them fell and the excitement surrounding Apple's entrance into the AI market ramped up, according to an assessment of the smartphone market during the most recent quarter by the research firm International Data Corp. Apple's iPhone shipments rose 3.5 percent from the same time last year to 56 million worldwide during the July-September period, second only to Samsung, according to IDC. The question now is whether Apple's gradual release of more AI will cause owners of older iPhones to splurge on the new models during the holidays, "future-proofing their purchases for the long term," said IDC analyst Nabila Popal.

Apple launches the iPhone into the AI era with free software update

Apple has released a free software update that will inject its first dose of artificial intelligence into its iPhone 16 line-up as the trendsetting company tries to catch up with technology's latest craze Apple is releasing a free software update that will inject its first dose of artificial intelligence into its iPhone 16 lineup as the trendsetting company tries to catch up with technology's latest craze. The upgrade to the iOS 18 operating system on Monday arrives more than a month after four iPhone 16 models equipped with the special computer chip needed to power the AI features went on sale at prices ranging from $800 to $1,200. Last year's premium models -- the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max -- also possess a processor that will enable the AI technology after the software update is installed. Recent versions of Apple's iPad and Mac computer also can be updated with the software. Countries outside the U.S. won't be getting the AI software for their iPhones until next year at a date still to be determined. Apple spent the past five weeks testing the AI software among an audience of iPhone owners who signed up to help the company fine tune the technology. The AI infusion is supposed to transform Apple's often bumbling virtual assistant Siri into a more conversational, versatile and colorful companion whose presence will be denoted by a glowing light that circles the iPhone's screen as requests are being handled. While Apple is promising Siri will be able to perform more tasks and be less prone to becoming confused, it won't be able to interact with other apps installed on the iPhone until another software update comes out at a still-unspecified date. Other AI features included in this software update will handle a variety of writing and proofreading tasks, summarize the content of emails and other documents. The AI also will provide a variety of editing tools to alter the appearance of photos and make it easier to find old pictures. Other AI tricks still to come in future software updates will include the ability to create customized emojis on the fly or conjure other fanciful imagery upon request. Apple also plans to eventually enable its AI suite to get a helping hand from OpenAI's ChatGPT when users want it. Most of the AI features Apple introduced Monday are already available on Android-powered smartphones that Samsung and Google released earlier this year. In an effort to distinguish its approach from the early leaders in AI, the iPhone's suite of new technology is being marketed as "Apple Intelligence." Apple is also promising its AI features will do a far better job protecting the privacy of iPhone owners by either running the technology on device or corralled in a fortress-like data center when some requests have to be processed remotely. Because most iPhones currently in use around the world don't have the computer chip needed for Apple's AI, the technology is expected to drive huge demand for the new models during the holiday season and into next year, too. That's the main reason why Apple's stock price has soared 18% since the Cupertino, California, previewed its AI strategy at a conference in early June. The run-up has increased Apple's market value by about $500 billion, catapulting it closer to becoming the first U.S. company to be worth $4 trillion. Apple will give investors their first glimpse at how the iPhone 16 is faring Thursday when the company posts quarterly financial information for the July-September quarter -- a period that includes the first few days the new models were on sale. Demand for the high-end iPhone 15 models ticked upward as prices for them fell and the excitement surrounding Apple's entrance into the AI market ramped up, according to an assessment of the smartphone market during the most recent quarter by the research firm International Data Corp. Apple's iPhone shipments rose 3.5 percent from the same time last year to 56 million worldwide during the July-September period, second only to Samsung, according to IDC. The question now is whether Apple's gradual release of more AI will cause owners of older iPhones to splurge on the new models during the holidays, "future-proofing their purchases for the long term," said IDC analyst Nabila Popal.

Apple launches the iPhone into the AI era with free software update

Apple is releasing a free software update that will inject its first dose of artificial intelligence into its iPhone 16 lineup as the trendsetting company tries to catch up with technology's latest craze. The upgrade to the iOS 18 operating system on Monday arrives more than a month after four iPhone 16 models equipped with the special computer chip needed to power the AI features went on sale at prices ranging from $800 to $1,200. Last year's premium models -- the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max -- also possess a processor that will enable the AI technology after the software update is installed. Recent versions of Apple's iPad and Mac computer also can be updated with the software. Countries outside the U.S. won't be getting the AI software for their iPhones until next year at a date still to be determined. Apple spent the past five weeks testing the AI software among an audience of iPhone owners who signed up to help the company fine tune the technology. The AI infusion is supposed to transform Apple's often bumbling virtual assistant Siri into a more conversational, versatile and colorful companion whose presence will be denoted by a glowing light that circles the iPhone's screen as requests are being handled. While Apple is promising Siri will be able to perform more tasks and be less prone to becoming confused, it won't be able to interact with other apps installed on the iPhone until another software update comes out at a still-unspecified date. Other AI features included in this software update will handle a variety of writing and proofreading tasks, summarize the content of emails and other documents. The AI also will provide a variety of editing tools to alter the appearance of photos and make it easier to find old pictures. Other AI tricks still to come in future software updates will include the ability to create customized emojis on the fly or conjure other fanciful imagery upon request. Apple also plans to eventually enable its AI suite to get a helping hand from OpenAI's ChatGPT when users want it. Most of the AI features Apple introduced Monday are already available on Android-powered smartphones that Samsung and Google released earlier this year. In an effort to distinguish its approach from the early leaders in AI, the iPhone's suite of new technology is being marketed as "Apple Intelligence." Apple is also promising its AI features will do a far better job protecting the privacy of iPhone owners by either running the technology on device or corralled in a fortress-like data center when some requests have to be processed remotely. Because most iPhones currently in use around the world don't have the computer chip needed for Apple's AI, the technology is expected to drive huge demand for the new models during the holiday season and into next year, too. That's the main reason why Apple's stock price has soared 18% since the Cupertino, California, previewed its AI strategy at a conference in early June. The run-up has increased Apple's market value by about $500 billion, catapulting it closer to becoming the first U.S. company to be worth $4 trillion. Apple will give investors their first glimpse at how the iPhone 16 is faring Thursday when the company posts quarterly financial information for the July-September quarter -- a period that includes the first few days the new models were on sale. Demand for the high-end iPhone 15 models ticked upward as prices for them fell and the excitement surrounding Apple's entrance into the AI market ramped up, according to an assessment of the smartphone market during the most recent quarter by the research firm International Data Corp. Apple's iPhone shipments rose 3.5 percent from the same time last year to 56 million worldwide during the July-September period, second only to Samsung, according to IDC. The question now is whether Apple's gradual release of more AI will cause owners of older iPhones to splurge on the new models during the holidays, "future-proofing their purchases for the long term," said IDC analyst Nabila Popal.

Apple's AI has now been released but it's not coming to Europe

Apple Intelligence is available for those with an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 model. Apple is releasing a free software update that will inject its first dose of artificial intelligence (AI) into its iPhone 16 lineup as the trendsetting company tries to catch up with technology's latest craze. The upgrade to the iOS 18 operating system on Monday arrives more than a month after four iPhone 16 models equipped with the special computer chip needed to power the AI features went on sale. Last year's premium models -- the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max -- also possess a processor that will enable the AI technology after the software update is installed. Recent versions of Apple's iPad and Mac computer also can be updated with the software. But countries outside the US won't be getting the AI software for their iPhones until next year at a date still to be determined. Euronews Next has previously reached out to Apple to ask why the AI features are not being rolled out in Europe but did not receive a reply. Apple has said in a blog post "for the foreseeable future, Apple Intelligence will not be available in any EU country". Apple has specifically said this was due to complications the company would face under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple spent the past five weeks testing the AI software among an audience of iPhone owners who signed up to help the company fine-tune the technology. The AI infusion is supposed to transform Apple's often bumbling virtual assistant Siri into a more conversational, versatile, and colourful companion whose presence will be denoted by a glowing light that circles the iPhone's screen as requests are being handled. While Apple is promising Siri will be able to perform more tasks and be less prone to becoming confused, it won't be able to interact with other apps installed on the iPhone until another software update comes out at a still-unspecified date. Other AI features included in this software update will handle a variety of writing and proofreading tasks, summarise the content of emails and other documents. The AI also will provide a variety of editing tools to alter the appearance of photos and make it easier to find old pictures. Other AI tricks still to come in future software updates will include the ability to create customised emojis on the fly or conjure other fanciful imagery upon request. Apple also plans to eventually enable its AI suite to get a helping hand from OpenAI's ChatGPT when users want it. Most of the AI features Apple introduced on Monday are already available on Android-powered smartphones that Samsung and Google released earlier this year. To distinguish its approach from the early leaders in AI, the iPhone's suite of new technology is being marketed as "Apple Intelligence". Because most iPhones currently in use around the world don't have the computer chip needed for Apple's AI, the technology is expected to drive huge demand for the new models during the holiday season and into next year, too. That's the main reason why Apple's stock price has soared 18 per cent since the California-based company previewed its AI strategy at a conference in early June. The run-up has increased Apple's market value by about $500 billion (€460 billion), catapulting it closer to becoming the first US company to be worth $4 trillion (€3.6 trillion). Apple will give investors their first glimpse at how the iPhone 16 is faring on Thursday when the company posts quarterly financial information for the July-September quarter -a period that includes the first few days the new models were on sale. Demand for the high-end iPhone 15 models ticked upward as prices for them fell and the excitement surrounding Apple's entrance into the AI market ramped up, according to an assessment of the smartphone market during the most recent quarter by the research firm International Data Corp. Apple's iPhone shipments rose 3.5 per cent from the same time last year to 56 million worldwide during the July-September period, second only to Samsung, according to IDC. The question now is whether Apple's gradual release of more AI will cause owners of older iPhones to splurge on the new models during the holidays, "future-proofing their purchases for the long term," said IDC analyst Nabila Popal. Also on Monday, Apple said that with the software update some AirPods wireless headphones can be used as hearing aids.

Apple launches the iPhone into the AI era with free software update

(AP) Apple is releasing a free software update that will inject its first dose of artificial intelligence into its iPhone 16 lineup as the trendsetting company tries to catch up with technology's latest craze. he upgrade to the iOS 18 operating system on Monday arrives more than a month after four iPhone 16 models equipped with the special computer chip needed to power the AI features went on sale at prices ranging from USD800 to USD1,200. Last year's premium models -- the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max -- also possess a processor that will enable the AI technology after the software update is installed. Recent versions of Apple's iPad and Mac computer also can be updated with the software. Countries outside the US won't be getting the AI software for their iPhones until next year at a date still to be determined. Apple spent the past five weeks testing the AI software among an audience of iPhone owners who signed up to help the company fine tune the technology. The AI infusion is supposed to transform Apple's often bumbling virtual assistant Siri into a more conversational, versatile and colorful companion whose presence will be denoted by a glowing light that circles the iPhone's screen as requests are being handled. While Apple is promising Siri will be able to perform more tasks and be less prone to becoming confused, it won't be able to interact with other apps installed on the iPhone until another software update comes out at a still-unspecified date. Other AI features included in this software update will handle a variety of writing and proofreading tasks, summarise the content of emails and other documents. The AI also will provide a variety of editing tools to alter the appearance of photos and make it easier to find old pictures. Other AI tricks still to come in future software updates will include the ability to create customized emojis on the fly or conjure other fanciful imagery upon request. Apple also plans to eventually enable its AI suite to get a helping hand from OpenAI's ChatGPT when users want it. Most of the AI features Apple introduced Monday are already available on Android-powered smartphones that Samsung and Google released earlier this year. In an effort to distinguish its approach from the early leaders in AI, the iPhone's suite of new technology is being marketed as "Apple Intelligence." Apple is also promising its AI features will do a far better job protecting the privacy of iPhone owners by either running the technology on device or corralled in a fortress-like data center when some requests have to be processed remotely. Because most iPhones currently in use around the world don't have the computer chip needed for Apple's AI, the technology is expected to drive huge demand for the new models during the holiday season and into next year, too. That's the main reason why Apple's stock price has soared 18 per cent since the Cupertino, California, previewed its AI strategy at a conference in early June. The run-up has increased Apple's market value by about USD500 billion, catapulting it closer to becoming the first US company to be worth USD4 trillion. Apple will give investors their first glimpse at how the iPhone 16 is faring Thursday when the company posts quarterly financial information for the July-September quarter -- a period that includes the first few days the new models were on sale. Demand for the high-end iPhone 15 models ticked upward as prices for them fell and the excitement surrounding Apple's entrance into the AI market ramped up, according to an assessment of the smartphone market during the most recent quarter by the research firm International Data Corp. Apple's iPhone shipments rose 3.5 per cent from the same time last year to 56 million worldwide during the July-September period, second only to Samsung, according to IDC. The question now is whether Apple's gradual release of more AI will cause owners of older iPhones to splurge on the new models during the holidays, "future-proofing their purchases for the long term," said IDC analyst Nabila Popal. Also on Monday, Apple said that with the software update some AirPods wireless headphones can be used as hearing aids. An estimated 30 million people -- 1 in 8 Americans over the age of 12 -- have hearing loss in both ears. Millions would benefit from hearing aids but most have never tried them, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

Apple Intelligence: AI features start to roll out to some iPhones

After a long wait, Apple has finally released its artificial intelligence (AI) tools for iPhone - to a select few. Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI tools announced in June, became available to owners of some iPhones around the world on Monday. The new features include notification summaries, tools to assist users in writing messages, and a glowing new interface for virtual assistant Siri. But they will only be available to people with the latest devices - including all iPhone 16 models, and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Apple Intelligence is also available on Mac computers and iPad tablets that are powered by its latest chips. But some of the tools made available on Monday have arrived later than equivalent features on other popular devices. Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the public release of its AI tools introduced "a new era" for its products. It comes after the company said on Friday it would reward ethical hackers who could demonstrate vulnerabilities in its AI software with a bounty of up to $1m (£770,000). The bundle of features released on Monday in its iOS 18.1 update are the first wave of AI tools previously shown off at Apple's summer developer conference. More features expected later this year include generating images and emoji from text prompts.

Apple launches iPhone into AI era with free software update

The upgrade to the iOS 18 operating system on Monday arrives more than a month after four iPhone 16 models equipped with the special computer chip needed to power the AI features went on sale at prices ranging from $800 to $1,200.Apple is releasing a free software update that will inject its first dose of artificial intelligence into its iPhone 16 lineup as the trendsetting company tries to catch up with technology's latest craze. The upgrade to the iOS 18 operating system on Monday arrives more than a month after four iPhone 16 models equipped with the special computer chip needed to power the AI features went on sale at prices ranging from $800 to $1,200. Last year's premium models - the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max - also possess a processor that will enable the AI technology after the software update is installed. Recent versions of Apple's iPad and Mac computer also can be updated with the software. Countries outside the U.S. won't be getting the AI software for their iPhones until next year at a date still to be determined. Apple spent the past five weeks testing the AI software among an audience of iPhone owners who signed up to help the company fine tune the technology. (AP) AMS

Apple Intelligence Is Finally Here and Reviewers Are Not Impressed - Decrypt

Apple has finally begun rolling out updates to its AI-powered suite of tools for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, the company said on Monday. While the world's biggest consumer tech company touted its latest enhancements, reviews of Apple Intelligence have been underwhelming. The AI experience, "in its current form, is quite flat," said Wired's senior reviews editor Julian Chokkattu. Ina Fried, chief technology correspondent at Axios, said the preliminary release offered "only modest improvements that left me excited for the future, but also impatient for it." And the New York Times sniffed that "the highly touted AI-transformed future still seems a long way off." Oh well. Now that it's met its self-imposed October deadline to get something AI-related out the door, Apple has plenty of time to iterate and transform the future. Apple announced its AI features for its devices -- a collaboration with OpenAI -- in July during its annual developer's conference. The move followed other tech giants, which have been pushing AI advancements across their ecosystems, including Google and Microsoft earlier this year. Participants in Apple's beta program have already been able to play with the features released today for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 for iPhone 15 Pro and newer models. With the new Apple Intelligence update, Apple said Siri can switch between voice and text and understand when users stumble over their words, all while answering more in-depth questions. The edges of a device's screen will now glow, alerting the user that Siri is listening, the company said in a statement. Leveraging its deal with OpenAI, Siri can use ChatGPT for additional help, deeper insights, and responses. Apple noted that GPT's chatbot would be available for free, without requiring an account, and would function across apps like Writing Tools and Camera Controls. Monday's preliminary release introduced new writing tools, similar to a cross between Grammarly and Google Docs. It allows users to rewrite, summarize, and proofread their work, as well as adjust the tone across platforms, including Mail, Messages, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps. The Apple Photos app now includes a new "Clean Up" tool that allows users to remove unwanted objects or people from images. Photos now also supports more advanced searches using natural language, making it easier to find specific photos by describing them. The 18.1 update introduces new notification summaries and "Priority Messages" in Mail, making it easier to manage emails, including showing summaries of emails without having to open them and showing the most urgent emails like same-day day invitations. Mail will also include a "Smart Reply" feature that suggests quick responses to emails. Similar to transcription software such as Otter.ai, Apple users can now transcribe and summarize phone calls made on the user's devices. Unlike Otter, Apple transcribes calls in real-time while the call is in progress. According to Apple, participants on the call are automatically notified that the recording is taking place. While the idea of phone calls being recorded and transcribed may give some users pause, Apple claims that through its "Private Cloud Compute" feature, user data is never stored or shared with Apple. Despite having ChatGPT included in Apple Intelligence, the Cupertino, California-based firm said user data like IP addresses are hidden, and OpenAI does not store requests made to ChatGPT. "Designed to protect users' privacy at every step, Apple Intelligence uses on-device processing, meaning that many of the models that power it run entirely on device." Its AI rollout is currently available in U.S. English, with localized English versions for Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the U.K. launching in December. Apple plans an update to support languages including Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish in April 2025.

Apple starts to roll out AI to iPhones, iPads and Macs

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Apple is rolling out artificial intelligence to all of its computers, launching the latest range of its desktop iMacs that will run on a new generation of processors designed to be fast enough to take advantage of the new capabilities. The American tech giant is putting its Apple Intelligence features - announced with much fanfare in June - into iPhones, iPads and Mac computers with an update of its operating system. It will overhaul its Siri assistant, giving users new ways to handle incoming emails and write outgoing ones, and new ways to find and manage photos on devices.

Apple rolls out AI features across devices

San Francisco (AFP) - Apple on Monday rolled out its first set of artificial intelligence features, dubbed "Apple Intelligence," across its premium iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, marking the tech giant's major push into generative AI. The release, first previewed by the company in June, marks Apple's foray into an AI race that has seen the US tech giants rush into ChatGPT-style technology. Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Apple are convinced that generative AI's powers are the next chapter of computing and have ramped up spending so as not to be left behind. "Apple Intelligence is generative AI in a way that only Apple can deliver, and we're incredibly excited about its ability to enrich our users' lives," said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a blog post. Apple's new features include enhanced writing tools, improved photo searching capabilities, and a more conversational Siri virtual assistant. The company also plans to integrate ChatGPT's capabilities into its services by December. Additional features planned for December include the ability to generate custom emoji and create images from text descriptions. The powers of Apple Intelligence are for now only available in US English. Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Korean and other languages will be released in the coming year. The features are largely being limited to the latest iPhones and iPads as well iMacs. Key features also include system-wide writing tools that can rewrite and proof-read text and the ability to remove unwanted objects from images. Overall, the features are similar to tools recently released by Meta, Microsoft and Google. Amid concerns about the safety of AI models, the company emphasized that its versions prioritize user privacy by keeping processing on-device or by using a new "Private Cloud Compute" system. This, the company says, will keep personal data within the Apple eco-system, which privileges data privacy.

The iPhone's AI Features Launched Today. They're (Mostly) Unremarkable.

Max Eddy is a writer who has covered privacy and security -- including password managers, VPNs, security keys, and more -- for over a decade. Anyone who paid attention to the Apple iPhone announcements last month remembers the headline: The new smartphones will feature Apple Intelligence, the company's in-house artificial intelligence. Today, those features are finally available thanks to the release of iOS 18.1, but after using a prerelease version of Apple Intelligence for the last few weeks, we think the highly touted AI-transformed future still seems a long way off.