Apple Refines AI-Powered Notification Summaries in iOS 18.3 Beta to Address Accuracy Concerns

iOS 18 RC: This Changes EVERYTHING!

Apple's latest software update, iOS 18.3 RC, brings a wealth of enhancements designed to elevate the user experience across various aspects of the iPhone's functionality. This update focuses on improving productivity, accessibility, and device compatibility, ensuring that users can make the most of their iPhones, regardless of the model they own. Let's dive into the key features and updates that iOS 18.3 RC offers. One of the most significant aspects of iOS 18.3 RC is its broad compatibility. If your device supports iOS 18, you can access the latest features and improvements without the need for a hardware upgrade. This commitment to compatibility ensures that a wide range of users can benefit from the advancements introduced in this update. In terms of accessibility, iOS 18.3 RC brings optimized dark mode icons that seamlessly integrate with accessibility settings. This enhancement makes it easier for users with visual impairments to navigate their devices effectively, promoting a more inclusive user experience. Managing notifications has become more intuitive and customizable with iOS 18.3 RC. Users now have the ability to disable app-specific notification summaries directly from the settings menu, providing greater control over how and when they receive updates. Additionally, Apple Intelligence (AI) has been refined to offer clearer explanations for errors in notification summaries, reducing confusion and enhancing overall usability. AI integration has also been expanded in the camera app, improving document scanning and the automatic creation of calendar events. These updates transform the camera into a valuable assistant for capturing moments and organizing daily life. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the more user-friendly approach to camera settings in iOS 18.3 RC. The "AF/AE Lock" option has been renamed to "Lock Focus and Exposure," making its function more easily understandable. This change, along with the expanded AI integration, ensures that the camera is not just a tool for capturing moments but also a valuable asset in streamlining daily tasks. Safari, Apple's web browser, has also received notable updates in iOS 18.3 RC. A new PDF cropping tool allows users to refine screenshots with precision, while warnings about potential inconsistencies in cropped PDFs ensure transparency. Additionally, download progress notifications now appear for third-party apps, providing users with a centralized view of file statuses without the need to switch between platforms. iOS 18.3 RC introduces a smarter Apple Wallet that integrates with third-party apps for order tracking. Users can now monitor Apple Pay transactions through apps like Shop, providing a centralized view of their purchases. This feature streamlines the digital payment experience, reducing the need to juggle multiple platforms. Managing incoming calls has also become easier, as has the ability to block unknown callers directly from the call screen. This feature proves particularly useful in avoiding spam or unwanted calls, ensuring a more pleasant and uninterrupted user experience. iOS 18.3 RC brings significant improvements to voice dictation, with enhanced real-time transcription accuracy. This update makes it easier for users to compose messages or take notes using their voice, streamlining the input process. The calculator app also sees the reintroduction of a small but useful feature: the ability to repeatedly press the equal button for iterative calculations. This update caters to both casual and technical users, providing a more efficient way to perform repetitive calculations. Creative users will benefit from the enhanced image rendering engine in iOS 18.3 RC, which delivers faster and more accurate results, particularly when working with complex art styles. This improvement ensures a smoother and more responsive experience for those who rely on their iPhones for artistic pursuits. iOS 18.3 RC takes a step forward in smart home integration by adding compatibility for smart robot vacuums through HomeKit. While this feature requires third-party firmware updates, it represents a significant advancement in incorporating smart devices into users' daily routines, making home management more convenient and efficient. While iOS 18.3 RC introduces a wide array of new features, some anticipated functionalities, such as charging time estimation, are still in development. Apple has indicated that these features may be included in future updates, ensuring a continuous improvement of the iOS experience. iOS 18.3 RC is a testament to Apple's ongoing commitment to refining its ecosystem based on user feedback and evolving needs. From streamlined notifications and improved accessibility to expanded smart home integration and enhanced creative tools, this update offers a wealth of enhancements that cater to a diverse range of users. Whether you rely on your iPhone for productivity, entertainment, or managing your connected devices, iOS 18.3 RC ensures a more seamless, efficient, and enjoyable experience. With the public release expected within a week, users will soon have the opportunity to explore and benefit from these advancements, further solidifying the iPhone's position as a versatile and indispensable tool in their daily lives.

iOS 18.3 RC Is Out and It Updates AI Notification Summaries and More

Apple software beta tester, "Helps make our computers and phones work!" - Zach's grandparents Apple released the iOS 18.3 release candidate to developers and public beta testers on Tuesday. The release comes about two weeks after the company released iOS 18.2.1. While Apple squashed a few bugs with that update, the latest beta introduces a few improvements to the iPhones of developers and beta testers, including some updates to Apple Intelligence notification summaries. Read more: An Expert's Guide to iOS 18 Since this is a beta, I recommend downloading it only on something other than your primary device. Because this isn't the final version of iOS 18.3, the update might be buggy and battery life may be short, so it's best to keep those troubles on a secondary device. Note that the RC is not the final version of iOS 18.3, so there could be more improvements to land on your iPhone when iOS 18.3 is released. There's no word on when Apple will release iOS 18.3 to the public yet. Here's what iOS 18.3 could bring to your iPhone soon. And just a reminder that only developers and beta testers who have an iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max or the iPhone 16 lineup can access any Apple Intelligence features for now. If you have any other iPhone, you won't have access to those features. The iOS 18.3 RC makes some adjustments to Apple Intelligence notification summaries. With this feature, some of your apps can give you summaries of notifications on your Lock Screen, and the feature is on by default in most cases. But according to the BBC, one of the publication's headlines was summarized inaccurately. With the RC, this feature no longer works for the News app, and there's a disclaimer in the Summarize Notifications menu in Settings that reads, "Summaries may contain errors." Notification summaries are temporarily disabled for apps in the News & Entertainment category, but you can opt-in to these notifications to see them again. The RC also italicizes AI notification summaries on your Lock Screen to distinguish them from other notifications. You can turn off AI notification summaries for certain apps from your Lock Screen, too, by slightly swiping left on the notification, tapping Options then tapping Turn Off Summaries. Another thing developers and beta testers can do in the iOS 18.3 RC is repeat operations in the Calculator app without entering the equation again. This isn't new, but Apple removed this ability from Calculator when the company released iOS 18 in September. Now, developers and beta testers can continue to double something, for example, just by pressing the equal sign multiple times instead of entering an equation again and again. Here are the full release notes for the iOS 18.3 RC. Visual intelligence with Camera Control (All iPhone 16 models) Notification summaries (All iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max) This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes: Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit: https://support.apple.com/100100 While this is the iOS 18.3 RC, Apple could release more RC versions of the iOS update to squash more bugs and improve on features. As of now, there's no word on when Apple will release iOS 18.3 to the general public.

iOS 18.3 beta just arrived -- here's what's changed

The iOS 18.3 beta has just been released, bringing us our first look at what the upcoming update will have to offer. It's certainly not as exciting as iOS 18.2, which offers many upgrades to Apple Intelligence, but there are some significant changes that you should be aware of. The update is part of the public and developer versions of the iOS 18.3 beta, meaning anyone signed up to Apple's beta program can install the update right now. As for when the final version of the update will arrive, that's anyone's guess. Apple is usually pretty coy about exact release dates, so it'll happen when it happens. Hopefully, it won't take too long. Here's everything that's changed in the iOS 18.3 beta. Apple has been under a lot of fire for the way its Notification Summaries features treats news. In some cases, the AI is straight up making things up, which is the last thing we need in an age where misinformation is more prevalent than ever. With that in mind, changes are being made as of iOS 18.3. The first change is that news summaries have been disabled for any apps in the News and Entertainment category, and will remain switched off until Apple has fixed the problem at a later date. The Notifications Summaries section of the settings app will also make it clearer that this is a beta feature, and mistakes may happen. Similarly, the setup process will encourage users to "double check important information" since "Summarization may change the meaning of the original headlines." So Apple is putting the onus on the user to fact check, rather than its AI for making stuff up in the first place. Summarized notifications will be italicized, to differentiate them, and they can be disabled on an app-by-app basis from the lock screen. iPhone 16 owners will find a slight change in the Camera Control section of the settings app. The toggle for AE/AF has now been changed to "Lock Focus and Exposure", which should make it significantly easier for non-photographers to understand exactly what the toggle does. Tapping the + button in any Messages conversation has long been used to open up the sidebar, which has a bunch of different features and options. Genmoji, which lets you create custom emojis using generative AI, is now among them -- giving you another way to write your own prompts to create your own, fresh new emojis. Anyone editing a PDF through the screenshot interface will now get a warning if they try and crop content out. The warning points out that cropping the document won't actually remove any data, and some PDF viewers may still be able to see what you cut out. iOS 18 actually saw a slight downgrade to the official calculator app, with repeating operations disappearing. Essentially this would let you repeat the last command you put into the calculator when hitting the equal sign. So typing in 2x2=4, then pressing the equal sign again would multiply the answer by 2 -- giving you 8. That feature is back in the iOS 18.3 beta, giving you one more way to calculate on your phone.

iOS 18.3 Public Beta 3 Reels In the AI Notification Summaries

Apple software beta tester, "Helps make our computers and phones work!" - Zach's grandparents Apple released the third public beta of iOS 18.3 to developers and public beta testers on Thursday. The release comes more than a week after the company released iOS 18.2.1. While Apple squashed a few bugs with that update, the latest beta introduces a few improvements to the iPhones of developers and beta testers, including some updates to Apple Intelligence notification summaries. Read more: An Expert's Guide to iOS 18 Since this is a beta, I recommend downloading it only on something other than your primary device. Because this isn't the final version of iOS 18.3, the update might be buggy and battery life may be short, so it's best to keep those troubles on a secondary device. Note that the beta is not the final version of iOS 18.3, so there could be more features to land on your iPhone when iOS 18.3 is released. There's no word on when Apple will release iOS 18.3 to the public yet. Here's what iOS 18.3 could bring to your iPhone soon. And just a reminder that only developers and beta testers who have an iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max or the iPhone 16 lineup can access any Apple Intelligence features for now. If you have any other iPhone, you won't have access to those features. The iOS 18.3 beta makes some adjustments to Apple Intelligence notification summaries. With this feature, some of your apps can give you summaries of notifications on your Lock Screen, and the feature is on by default in most cases. But according to the BBC, one of the publication's headlines was summarized inaccurately. With the beta, this feature no longer works for the News app, and there's a disclaimer in the Summarize Notifications menu in Settings that reads, "Summaries may contain errors." According to 9to5Mac, notification summaries are temporarily disabled for apps in the News & Entertainment category. The beta also italicizes AI notification summaries on your Lock Screen to distinguish them from other notifications. You can turn off AI notification summaries for certain apps from your Lock Screen, too, by slightly swiping left on the notification, tapping Options then tapping Turn Off Summaries. One thing developers and beta testers can do in the iOS 18.3 beta is repeat operations in the Calculator app without entering the equation again. This isn't new, but Apple removed this ability from Calculator when the company released iOS 18 in September. Now, developers and beta testers can continue to double something, for example, just by pressing the equal sign multiple times instead of entering an equation again and again. While there aren't many changes in the update, this is just the third public beta of iOS 18.3. There will likely be more betas before the OS is released to the public, so there's plenty of time for Apple to add new features and improve on others. As of now, there's no word on when Apple will release iOS 18.3 to the general public.

iOS 18.3 beta 3 changes and features - the Notification Summary update [Video] - 9to5Mac

Yesterday Apple dropped the latest version of iOS 18.3, two days after betas for watchOS and tvOS were released. We now have a likely explanation for the delay. Apple has been working to refine the Notification Summary feature, on platforms like iOS, which support Apple Intelligence. This update comes after several botched AI-generated notification summaries, which resulted in what appeared to be false and/or misleading headlines from organizations like BBC News. In a testament to how egregious these notifications were, Apple has made some significant changes to the way that its Notification Summaries work and how they are presented to the user. Watch our full explainer video, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more. As a part of its iOS 18.1 rollout, which included phase one of Apple Intelligence, Apple released the Notification Summaries feature. Notification Summaries attempt to concisely summarize multiple notifications from a single source into an glanceable, and easily-digestible alert. A lot of times, these summaries prove to not only be handy, but accurate in representing the contents of the full batch of notifications. Subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more videos But like everything related to AI, it's not perfect, and mistakes happen. However, it's one thing to receive an amalgamation of texts from a family member or friend. Even if the contents of the summarized notification isn't accurate, it can often be humorous. It's an entirely different issue when the notification summary condenses info from a news organization, resulting in misleading or sometimes downright false summaries. In BBC News' case, this is what occurred when the Apple Intelligence-assisted Notification Summary produced this wildly false notification: That's a serious issue, and could easily damage the reputation of the originating source. Needless to say, BBC News wasn't happy, and called out Apple about the misleading summary. Notably, BBC News did not share the original headlines that were used to generate the notification summary, but it obviously wasn't anything like what was generated by the AI. This isn't the first time this issue has happened, and it won't be the last. However, Apple is taking steps, as it promised a few weeks ago, to minimize potential issues going forward. The first thing that Apple wants users to know is that Notification Summaries is a beta feature. Whereas this may have not been as clear in previous versions of iOS, all Apple Intelligence features, thus far, are in beta. When enabling notification summaries in the latest iOS 18.3 beta, Apple has made this clearer. Not only is the beta status of Apple Intelligence made more clear, iOS 18.3 will also warn users that these notification summaries "may contain errors." Again, public awareness of the limitations of AI-generated headlines is a good thing. Additionally, Apple is providing users with more power to disable notification summaries for an individual app directly. This could always be done via Settings → Notifications, but now you can do so directly from Notification Center or from the Lock Screen by swiping left on the notification → Options → Turn Off Summaries. Notification summaries on the Lock Screen will now be displayed with italicized text. This may seem like a small change, but it will make it clear, at a glance, that what's being displayed is AI-generated, thus distinguishing it from regular notifications. The summaries that might end up causing the biggest issue are generated from apps in the News & Entertainment category, like The BBC. Thus, apps within this category will have their notification summaries disabled indefinitely. Apple says that a future software update will re-enable summaries for apps that fall within this category as it works to refine the experience. There are not many new features in iOS 18.3 beta 3 other than what's been discussed above. There is one thing that we discovered, a new AXFeatureOverrideServer component. From what we can discern, this seems to be a feature that will allow a user to toggle accessibility features on or off temporarily. This could be just a developer tool, or it may be a hint at an upcoming additional to iOS accessibility. In my previous iOS Decoded post, which covered iOS 18.3 beta 2, I walked through quite a few new under-the-hood updates that point to several upcoming iOS features. Be sure to watch that full episode below. I've been using Notifications Summaries from day one, and it's quickly become one of my most appreciated features of Apple Intelligence. However, I could see, as could many others, that this feature was a ticking time bomb of sorts when it came to false or misleading headlines like this. I've received numerous, mostly humorous summaries, that totally throw off the context of the real batch of notifications. That's fine when it's just between me and my friends and we can all laugh about it. It's a much more serious issue when it's from a news organization, and perhaps millions of people receive the misleading summary. It's great that Apple is addressing this, but it seems like an unforced error. It was just a matter of time before something like this happened. What do you think? Sound off down below in the comments with your thoughts on the matter.