Apple's iOS 18.3 Update Addresses AI Notification Summary Concerns

Apple Rolls Out iOS 18.3 Update With Key Changes to Notification Summaries

Visual Intelligence can now add events to the Calendar from posters iOS 18.3 update for iPhone was rolled out by Apple on Monday. It is substantially smaller than the first two numbered updates which introduced notable features, most of which are part of Apple Intelligence -- the company's artificial intelligence (AI) suite. However, it brings a key change to Notification Summaries following the recent criticism faced by the Apple Intelligence-powered feature for generating erroneous summaries of news headlines. It also includes other tweaks related to the Calculator app and Apple Intelligence' opt-in system. According to Apple's release notes, the iOS 18.3 update is compatible with the existing models which support iOS 18. One of the most notable additions in the update is the changes to Notification Summaries. The feature is now turned off by default and made unavailable for the News & Entertainment category. Users who opt-in to use it will be able to do so when it is made available again. The feature, introduced with iOS 18.1 last year, condenses information acquired from notifications to let users quickly scan through key details in a summarised format. However, the company recently drew flak, most notably from BBC, which approached Apple about false information being added to AI summaries. And while Apple did not pull down the feature or release a fix at the time, the latest update disables it by default. It now also appears with a warning that says "may contain errors.". Another change to notification summaries is to its presentation. Apple says it will now appear with italicised text to help users distinguish it better from other notifications. Apple has also made Apple Intelligence an opt-out feature. Previously opt-in, users will now have to manually opt-out if they do not wish to use Apple's AI suite. This option is present in the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane in the Settings app. Visual Intelligence is also getting some tweaks. Apple says users can now add an event to Calendar from a poster or flyer. Further, it will be able to identify a wider range of animals and plants. This feature is exclusive to the iPhone 16 models and is accessible via the Camera Control button. Meanwhile, the company has brought back a key functionality to the Calculator app. With iOS 18, Apple removed the ability to repeat the last mathematical operation by tapping the equals sign repeatedly. iOS 18.3 brings it back. Along with these changes, the update also carries fixes for bugs related to Genmoji, HealthKit, and Writing Tools. Gadgets 360 staff can confirm that the update and its features are now available to use on iPhone.

iOS 18.3 is out with tweaks to AI notification summaries

iOS 18.3 is here, and it's bringing changes to AI notification summaries on your iPhone. In iOS 18.3's release notes, Apple says it has temporarily disabled notification summaries for news and entertainment apps. The change, which was first spotted in the iOS 18.3 beta, comes after the BBC called out the feature for incorrectly summarizing one of its headlines. If you opt-in to the feature, Apple will notify you once it becomes available again. For Apple devices that support Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro and later, iPads and Macs with the Apple Silicon M1 chip or later, and the most recent version of the iPad mini), today's updates will also switch Apple Intelligence on by default. Other features coming with the new iPhone update include the ability to use Visual Intelligence to add an event to the Calendar app from a poster or flyer, as well as a way to "easily identify plants and animals." On Macs, the macOS 15.3 update that is also rolling out now is adding support for Genmoji, along with similar changes for notification summaries. Additionally, iOS 18.3 will show notification summaries in italicized text to help you distinguish them from standard notifications. There will be new settings that let you manage notification summaries from your lock screen as well.

iOS 18.3 is here, with clearly labeled Apple Intelligence notification summaries

The update also activates AI features by default, but you can still opt out. iOS 18.3 is here. After over a month in beta, Apple made the update available for everyone using an eligible device on Monday. Among other changes, the new software turns on Apple Intelligence by default (although you can still opt out) and makes it clearer when the company's AI generates notification summaries. Apple said earlier this month that a future update would more clearly label Apple Intelligence notification summaries, which arrived in iOS 18.1 in October. That came after the BBC reported that news summaries were twisted to falsely state that the accused murderer of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson had shot himself. Other bogus summaries claimed a darts player won a world title before playing in the final and that tennis superstar Rafael Nadal had come out as gay. The following week, Apple took it a step further and paused notification summaries of all news alerts in the iOS 18.3 beta. It isn't yet clear if they'll be back in today's public release, but they will at some point. Before iOS 18.3, the summaries were only indicated by the small icon in the above image. In the new software, the entire summary is italicized, and there's an all-caps "Summarized by Apple Intelligence" note below each AI-generated recap. Apple seems to want to boost the adoption of Apple Intelligence on compatible devices, as iOS 18.3 enables the slew of AI features by default during onboarding. You can still opt out, but it takes a few seconds of work: Head to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and turn off the toggle. Other new features in iOS 18.3 are subtler changes: Visual intelligence can now add calendar events from posters or flyers, and it's better at identifying plants and animals. Of course, there's plenty of little bug fixes, too. As always, you can grab the update by heading to Settings > General > Software Update.

5 small (but still kinda big) ways your iPhone is changing with iOS 18.3

This isn't a really big release, but it's still going to bring a handful of significant changes to the way you use your iPhone. With iOS 18.3, Apple is sort of taking a breather before it continues its staged rollout of major Apple Intelligence features. That doesn't mean there's nothing there but bug fixes and security patches (though there are those, too). There are plenty of small changes that are coming to your iPhone -- here are the five ways your iPhone will be different after you update to iOS 18.3. When Apple introduced Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1, you had to choose to enable it. With iOS 18.3, it's turned on by default. You still need an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that supports it, of course. If you want to disable Apple Intelligence, open Settings, choose Apple Intelligence & Siri, and flip off the toggle. The new Apple Intelligence feature that summarizes notifications has been met with mixed reviews. Sometimes it just gets things wrong, and when you can't tell it's an AI summary instead of a real text from Mom, that can lead to disaster. That little tiny "summary" icon on the notification isn't enough. So in iOS 18.3, Apple is making it more obvious when a notification shows an AI summary. The text will be italicized, while normal notifications will have regular text. Even if you recognize that the notification text is an AI summary, there are some that can be very problematic if they're wrong. The Apple Intelligence notification summaries for some news events have been wrong at times, to the point where a person reading them would think the opposite of what happened. Of course, we all know it's just a notification and just an AI-generated summary at that, and you should always go read the article before passing judgment, right? Just kidding! This is the internet, where you have to immediately post an opinion just from seeing a link to a headline somewhere. To help reduce the very obvious problems this can cause, Apple has disabled Notification Summaries from all apps in the "News & Entertainment" app category for now. The company plans to re-enable it in the future when the quality of the summaries is more reliable. Up until iOS 18, you could continually tap the equals sign (=) on the Calculator app and it would repeat the last operation. If you said 10 x 2 and tapped = you would get 20. Tap = again and you get 40. Tap = again and you get 80. And so on. With the new Calculator app and all its fancy features (not to mention an iPad version!) Apple seemingly forgot this popular capability. With iOS 18.3, it's back! If you have an iPhone 16 with a Camera Control button, you can press and hold it for a couple of seconds to launch a special camera interface Apple calls Visual Intelligence. Snap a pic of something and you get all sorts of contextual information. You can get business details, details, and books or albums, ask ChatGPT about the image, search Google for similar images, and more. With the iOS 18.3 update, you get an instant display at the top of the screen to identify animals and plants, without needing to take a pic. And if you show something with an event on it, you can quickly add it to your calendar. I know what you're thinking-all this AI stuff, but when does Siri get good? The answer is: in the next update! Or at least, Apple has said to expect the improved Siri, with personal context and lots of app intents, in the spring timeframe which is when we expect iOS 18.4. Will these new Siri capabilities change people's perception of Apple's AI assistant, or will it remain the subject of ridicule for another year? We'll know more as the next round of betas get underway.

Apple News Roundup: iOS 18.3, 18.4, and More This Week

iOS 18.3 is expected to be released this week and Apple continues to refine and enhance its ecosystem, delivering updates that span software, hardware, and artificial intelligence. This week's developments showcase the company's commitment to improving user experiences and driving innovation across its product lines. The video below from Brandon Butch gives us more details about the Apple News this week and also iOS 18.3. The iOS 18.3 release candidate prioritizes device reliability and functionality improvements. This update addresses persistent bugs, such as the disappearing keyboard during Siri interactions and audio glitches in Apple Music, ensuring a more seamless user experience. One notable feature in iOS 18.3 is the default enablement of Apple Intelligence. This advanced machine learning tool enhances your device's ability to recognize objects like plants or animals through the camera and extract actionable information, such as calendar events, from images. While users have the option to opt out, Apple Intelligence promises smarter and more intuitive interactions with your device. Looking ahead, iOS 18.4 aims to take Siri's capabilities to new heights with the introduction of onscreen awareness. This feature enables Siri to suggest actions based on the content currently displayed on your device. For example, if you're reading an email, Siri might recommend scheduling a meeting or drafting a reply, streamlining your workflow and saving time. iOS 18.4 also introduces cross-app workflows, facilitating smoother transitions between apps. Tasks such as moving data from Notes to Calendar or sharing files between apps will become more efficient, reducing the need for manual steps. Additionally, Siri's improved personal context will tailor responses to your specific needs, making interactions more relevant and helpful. While still in development, CarPlay 2.0 has garnered significant attention from automakers collaborating with Apple to integrate this next-generation system. Set for a 2025 launch, CarPlay 2.0 promises deeper integration with vehicle controls and a more intuitive user interface. Although details are limited, the anticipation surrounding CarPlay 2.0 highlights Apple's dedication to transforming the automotive experience. Rumors surrounding the iPhone 17 Air suggest a potential redesign featuring a "Pixel-like" camera bar, although these claims remain unverified. Meanwhile, source code findings hint at the possibility of the iPhone SE 4 adopting a Dynamic Island design, replacing the traditional notch. However, a smaller Dynamic Island for the iPhone 17 Pro appears to be delayed until the iPhone 18. On the iPad front, Apple is expected to release new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models later this year, likely featuring the M5 chip for improved performance without significant design changes. This incremental update aligns with Apple's strategy of delivering consistent and reliable hardware improvements. Apple has released beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, although specific details about these updates remain unclear. These enhancements are expected to focus on improving audio quality and connectivity, further refining the AirPods experience. In other news, Apple has officially opened its Miami Worldcenter retail store, showcasing a garden-inspired design that emphasizes sustainability and innovation. This expansion demonstrates Apple's commitment to providing immersive and engaging retail experiences for its customers. Apple's increasing focus on artificial intelligence is evident in its recent appointment of Kim Vorrath, a veteran Apple executive, to its AI team. This strategic move underscores the company's dedication to enhancing Siri and Apple Intelligence, signaling a broader push to integrate AI across its ecosystem. These efforts aim to deliver smarter, more personalized user experiences across devices, setting the stage for a more intelligent and intuitive future. As Apple continues to refine its ecosystem through thoughtful software updates, hardware advancements, and AI-driven innovation, users can look forward to a more seamless, intelligent, and integrated experience. From the practical improvements in iOS 18.3 to the forward-thinking features of iOS 18.4 and the ongoing development of CarPlay 2.0, Apple remains at the forefront of shaping the future of technology, keeping users engaged and excited about what's to come.

The iOS 18.3 Update Teaches Your iPhone New Tricks

Apple today released the iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 updates with several new features for iPhone and iPad owners, including much-needed tweaks for summarized notifications. iOS 18.3 turns on Apple Intelligence by default during iPhone onboarding; what was previously an opt-in feature is now an opt-out. More importantly, it turns off those unhinged AI notification summaries because they can contain major factual errors and inaccuracies, at times producing embarrassing mistakes. Notification summaries are powered by Apple Intelligence, which is still in beta. Anyway, Apple has decided to turn off those summaries for all apps from the App Store's News and Entertainment categories. If you've opted-in via Settings > Notifications > Summarize Notifications, you can expect to see summarized notifications again "when the feature becomes available" in a future update, per the iOS 18.3 release notes. Notification summaries for other types of apps remain in effect. Apple has made other tweaks to better distinguish AI summaries from regular notifications, like using italicized text and the glyph in the notification banner. You can now disable summarized notifications for an app directly from the Lock Screen or Notification Center by swiping the notification, choosing "Options," and then selecting the option labeled "Turn Off Summaries." Apple has also tweaked the wording to indicate this is a beta feature. "This beta feature will occasionally make mistakes that could misrepresent the meaning of the original notification," read a slash screen in the Settings app. The company also warns you that notification summaries "may contain errors" when turning on the feature. iOS 18.3 brings minor tweaks to the Google Lens-style Visual Intelligence feature available on the iPhone 16 lineup. If the feature detects a poster or flyer in the viewfinder, you'll see an option to add an event to your calendar. You can also use visual intelligence to identify plants and animals. Strictly speaking, this isn't new because you can already identify plants, animals, and more in photos with the existing Visual Look Up feature. For people who don't own the latest iPhone or don't care about Apple Intelligence, iOS and iPadOS 18.3 bring a few noteworthy improvements. In the built-in Calculator app, for example, you can now repeat the last mathematical operation by hitting the equals sign again. This is one of the features that got lost in the Calculator redesign in iOS 18; another is swiping to delete the last digit. Also, when cropping out areas from full-page PDF screenshots, you'll now see a privacy message to ensure you understand that "the cropped content is not removed from the PDF" and can still be "made visible in some apps." iOS and iPadOS 18.3 fix a few issues as well, including the onscreen keyboard vanishing when typing to Siri and audio playback continuing until the song ends even after closing the Music app. The built-in Screen Recording tool now supports stereo sound, HDR video, and a live camera overlay in picture-in-picture mode for commentary-style screencasts. To update your iPhone and iPad to iOS and iPadOS 18.3, go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the onscreen instructions to download and install an over-the-air update. Apple's support page will soon be refreshed with details about the security patches and critical bug fixes included in iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. You can check what features are available in specific countries and languages on Apple's iOS 18 Feature Availability page. Source: Apple

Ios 18.3 Brings Upgrades To Visual Intelligence and Notification Summaries. Here's How To Download It on Your iPhone

Nelson Aguilar is an LA-based tech how-to writer and graduate of UCLA. With more than a decade of experience, he covers Apple and Google and writes on iPhone and Android features, privacy and security settings and more. Apple has been promoting Apple Intelligence pretty heavily since the company announced the AI feature back in June, but it's honestly been pretty disappointing. However, with each point upgrade that Apple releases, it does improve, and the same can be said for iOS 18.3 On Monday, Apple announced the release of iOS 18.3, which isn't a major update, but does bring a few upgrades to Visual Intelligence, changes to notification summaries and a new (old) feature to the Calculator app. With Visual Intelligence, which is exclusive to the iPhone 16 models, you can now add an event to the Calendar app by scanning a poster or flyer with your camera. Visual Intelligence can now also identify plans and animals. As for notification summaries, they're now italicized, so that you clearly know it's a summary, and you can disable the AI feature on a per-app basis if you're not happy with it. It's also now permanently disabled for news apps. As long as you own a compatible Apple Intelligence device, you can download iOS 18.3 today and get all the latest AI features. Here's everything you need to know. Every iPhone model after the iPhone XS and iPhone 11 can run iOS 18, only some of the most recent models support Apple Intelligence. This is every iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence: As mentioned above, only iPhone 16 users will get Visual Intelligence, the AI-powered visual search feature. Apple Intelligence also works on iPad and Mac models with the M1 chip and later. You don't necessarily need to do all of these things to download iOS 18.3 on your iPhone, but it will definitely make the download experience go so much easier: To check out Apple's new AI, you must have an eligible device and run the current iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 or MacOS 15.1. (On the iPhone side, that's basically the current iPhone 16 models plus last year's iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.) You'll also need to join the waitlist in the Settings app, but Apple Support says it usually only takes a few hours to gain access. Once approved, you'll receive a notification saying it's ready to activate on your device. You should also check out these easy tricks for optimizing your iPhone storage. Now that you're all set, it's time to download iOS 18.3 If you're coming from iOS 18, iOS 18.1 or iOS 18.3, updating should be incredibly easy. All you need to do is go to Settings > General > Software Update and hit Update Now. Enter your passcode, agree to terms and conditions to request the update, and wait for iOS 18 to download and install. Once your phone restarts and boots back up, you should be running iOS 18.3. It's out! Apple started rolling out the iOS 18.3 update today, Jan. 27. More Apple Intelligence features will be available in the months ahead, the company said.

Latest iOS 18.3 update 'fixes' AI notifications, but it still can't compete with Android

Despite the tweaks, iOS still suffers from a serious notification problem that Android dealt with years ago. For years, Android phones have offered notification channels, giving users more control over the alerts they receive. Conversely, iPhones have long suffered from a notification management problem, which Apple Intelligence summaries futilely try to minimize. While the latest iOS 18.3 software update tweaks the notification system, it still fails to address the elephant in the room. Following weeks of beta testing with developers and enthusiasts, Apple has released iOS 18.3 to all users. This build "fixes" the misleading AI-generated headline problem by temporarily turning off notification summaries for news and entertainment apps. It also italicizes alerts generated by Apple Intelligence to clearly distinguish them from regular notifications and minimize user confusion. While AI summaries can undoubtedly help iOS users digest numerous and lengthy notifications, they're often incomplete, ambiguous, or straight-up wrong. So, by relying on AI to patch the iPhone's broken notification system, Apple is sometimes worsening the issue. A proper solution would be overhauling the entire infrastructure to accommodate this era's ever-increasing alerts. Beyond the notification changes, iOS 18.3 lets iPhone 16 users add events to the Calendar app when scanning a poster with Visual Intelligence. The Google Lens rival can also identify plants and animals with this update. Other fresh additions include a new Black Unity wallpaper and support for hitting the equals sign recurrently to repeat the last mathematical operation in the built-in Calculator app. It also packs under-the-hood bug fixes and security patches, so we advise all users to update their iPhones as soon as possible.