iOS 18.4: A Major Leap for Apple's AI Assistant Siri

iOS 18.4 could be the biggest iPhone upgrade ever - here's why

We're halfway through the iPhone 16 and iOS 18's launch year and yet we're still waiting for the final piece of the puzzle that completes Apple Intelligence's first wave of features - major changes to Siri in iOS 18.4. According to reports, iOS 18.4, which includes major software upgrades for the best iPhones, is coming in April and a beta of everything it has to offer could arrive within the next few weeks. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, iOS 18.4 beta could arrive as soon as this week, so there's no better time to start talking about the major changes coming to iOS. When Apple Intelligence was unveiled back in June last year it was seen as a pivotal moment for the future of Apple products with incredibly promising AI tools that would transform the way you interact with your devices. Fast forward eight months and I think it's fair to say that Apple Intelligence's rollout has been tepid at best. AI tools have launched as part of iOS 18.1, 18.2, and 18.3 bringing new Apple Intelligence features every time from Mail app categorization to Genmoji (generative AI emojis). Every update to iOS 18 brings something new, and for a few weeks, it feels like the turning point of Apple Intelligence's relevancy before it dissipates and becomes just another iPhone feature again. After nearly a year, criticizing the rollout is fair, but it's hard to criticize Apple Intelligence when the most important aspect of it all still hasn't arrived on the scene. Luckily, that's all about to change in the coming months when iOS 18.4 ushers in a new era for Apple Intelligence, and Apple's voice assistant, Siri. You see, Apple Intelligence is all about Siri, it's the beating heart of Apple AI and unfortunately, up until now, it's a clunky mess that missing its core. Yes, there's a nice new design that pulsates from the edges of compatible iPhones, and yes, it has access to ChatGPT for more difficult prompts, but it's still just Siri, and we all know too well that "just Siri" is exactly what we don't want. However, after 14 years of Siri, it's finally expected to get good with new functionality that makes it the AI personal assistant that can genuinely improve your life, and that's why iOS 18.4 could be the biggest software upgrade for iPhone we've ever seen. Siri's iOS 18.4 makeover can be broken down into three key areas that combine to make the voice assistant the beating heart of every Apple Intelligence-powered device on the market. Here are the three main changes coming to Siri in iOS 18.4: Siri in iOS 18.4 will be able to track information from throughout iOS including all your emails, messages, and photos, as well as the way you interact with files on your device. From there, Siri will be able to take context into account when responding to your queries, offering suggestions and helping you keep on top of life. For example, you'll be able to ask Siri to remind you of the name of a restaurant a friend told you about in Messages, and the voice assistant will then be able to search through your conversations and provide an accurate answer. Have you ever wanted to ask Siri a question based off of what you're doing at that very moment in time on your device? Well, in iOS 18.4 Siri will be able to know what you're looking at on your iPhone's display and respond to questions based off of your screen. Imagine being able to ask Siri to add an event to your calendar from an image, or ask further details about a photo you're looking at. Pretty cool! Last but definitely not least is app integration which allows Siri to better integrate with first and third-party apps and learn more about you from the software you use the most throughout the day. This has been something users have been clamoring for since Siri initially launched in 2011 and to have better communication between the voice assistant and the apps on your device is going to unlock a new realm of possibilities. We might need to wait a few weeks following the launch of iOS 18.4 to see the true power of Siri's app integration as it will require app developers to update their apps. But in time, Siri will slowly get even better and have a full understanding of your life and how it can improve it. Covering Apple Intelligence launches since September has proven pretty tricky. On one hand, Apple is implementing new features into its devices that are useful when you need them and forgettable when you don't. On the other hand, I can't help but feel that Apple Intelligence has been lagging behind the competition. iOS 18.4 is the final piece of the puzzle in the first wave of Apple Intelligence, and accessing Siri 2.0 will give us an indication whether Apple's AI is going to be a major success, or if it's going to be just another software feature in an ever-growing list of functionality. Apple wants people to buy new devices for Apple Intelligence, and we're soon going to find out if you should.

iOS 18.4 beta tipped to land this week with the Siri upgrade I've been waiting for

The update is expected to give Siri "on-screen awareness" and more iOS 18.3 recently brought Visual Intelligence upgrades and more to our iPhones, but developer beta testers will soon get to test-drive iOS 18.4, according to new rumors. It's expected to be a major update, and contain a Siri boost I've been waiting for since WWDC 2024. The iOS 18.4 beta will arrive "in the coming days", according to Bloomberg's generally reliable Mark Gurman, writing in his Power On newsletter. To be more precise, Gurman thinks the update will roll out "sometime between the middle of this week and the next one", ahead of a public version in April. The big feature of this update is expected to be a more personalized Siri that can tap into your personal data to answer queries. That's not all, with the iOS 18.4 beta also likely giving us our first taste of Siri with on-screen awareness and app control. While Siri's latest brain upgrade will be iOS 18.4's main highlight, the update is also expected to bring a few other handy features. We'll likely see Priority Notifications (which uses AI to highlight your most important notifications), and the new emojis that were recently announced by the Unicode Consortium - yes, expect to see a new 'fight cloud' emoji and more for your iMessage chats. But it's the Siri upgrade I'm most looking forward to - even if Gurman has tempered expectations by warning that "Apple is still well behind in this area"... The Apple Intelligence rollout has been painfully slow, with many of the features highlighted at WWDC 2024 last June still not available on our iPhones. But I'm looking forward to seeing Siri finally break out of its straitjacket and become more of a personal assistant than a voice-activated timer. We've already seen Siri get a few smaller updates in the last six months. iOS 18.1 gave us the ability to ask it follow-up questions, while iOS 18.2 plugged Siri into ChatGPT for the first time (although this is something I've used sparingly, due to ChatGPT's propensity to hallucinate). But it was the next-gen Siri promises from WWDC 2024 last year (the video above jumps straight to them) that I've been most looking forward to. Apple showed demos of "on-screen awareness" and "in-app actions" that look genuinely useful - and they won't be limited to Apple's own apps, thanks to the App Intents API for developers. There will likely be a delay until third-party apps tap into these powers, and we'll have to see if the experience lives up to Apple's lofty promises. But I could actually see Siri becoming my default way of navigating my iPhone if it works well, particularly as it's now possible to type to Siri (by double-tapping the base of your home screen) when you don't want to talk to it audibly. The full version of iOS 18.4 may not be landing until April, but this developer beta will give us an idea of whether or not Siri will be capable of fulfilling the promise shown in its WWDC 2024 previews.

iOS 18.4 may finally give Siri a smarter upgrade: Here's what's changing

Siri will also be able to perform tasks across multiple apps without actually opening them. With the upcoming iOS 18.4 update, Apple is expected to revamp and make its AI assistant Siri more powerful, intelligent, and intuitive. It is expected that with this update, we will get to see features like on-screen awareness, in-app actions, and enhanced personalisation, most of which are powered by Apple Intelligence. Let me tell you what you will be able to do with each of these new upcoming Siri features. With this update, Siri will become more personalised adapt to user preferences, and leverage personal data for more relevant responses. Siri's on-screen awareness feature is a major upgrade and highlights this time. With this feature, Siri will be able to understand what's displayed on the screen and act accordingly. For example, if a friend sends you their address in a message, you can simply say, "Add this address to their contact," and Siri will do it automatically without requiring further details. The next feature is in-app actions. For this, Siri uses Apple's new App Intents platform. It will be able to perform tasks across multiple apps without actually opening them. Users can ask Siri to find a specific photo, edit it, and save it in a particular folder with just a voice command and won't even have to open any apps. In addition to the upgraded Siri, there will be some other features too that will drop with iOS 18.4. Priority Notifications: Apple Intelligence will now prioritise important notifications at the top. Image Playground Enhancements: You will get new styles like "Sketch." Expanded Language Support: Apple has confirmed that its AI-powered features will soon support French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and localised English for India and Singapore. iOS 18.4 is expected to roll out soon for everyone around the globe.

iOS 18.4 Hype What We're Hoping to See

Apple's highly anticipated iOS 18.4 update is poised to introduce a range of exciting features, including advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, enhanced app integration, and a fresh collection of emojis. With the beta release just around the corner and the official launch expected within weeks, this update promises to refine how you interact with your iPhone. By focusing on smarter functionality and seamless user experiences, iOS 18.4 could significantly enhance your daily digital life. Here's an in-depth look at what this update is expected to offer ina new video from Simple Alpaca One of the standout features of iOS 18.4 is the significant upgrade to Siri, driven by advanced AI technology. If you frequently rely on Siri for tasks, this update could make your interactions more intuitive and productive. These enhancements aim to transform Siri into a more versatile and indispensable assistant, capable of seamlessly integrating into your daily routines and adapting to your unique needs. iOS 18.4 is set to elevate app integration, creating a more cohesive and efficient experience across the operating system. This update could redefine how you interact with multiple apps, making multitasking smoother and more intuitive. For users, this means fewer disruptions and a more seamless experience when managing tasks or switching between apps, enhancing both productivity and convenience. While functional updates often take the spotlight, iOS 18.4 also brings a new batch of emojis, underscoring Apple's commitment to enriching digital communication. These additions may seem small, but they play a vital role in how you express yourself online. These updates ensure that your conversations remain vibrant, relatable, and reflective of the world around you. For those eager to explore iOS 18.4's features ahead of the official release, the beta version offers an early glimpse. However, beta software comes with its own set of challenges, and it's essential to approach it with care. While the beta phase allows Apple to refine the update based on user feedback, waiting for the official release ensures a more stable and polished experience. The official release of iOS 18.4, expected within the next month, will deliver a finalized version of these features, free from the instability of beta software. Here's what you can anticipate: For developers, the update will also introduce new tools and APIs, fostering innovation and allowing the creation of apps that further enrich the iOS ecosystem. iOS 18.4 represents a significant step forward for Apple's mobile operating system, blending smarter AI, seamless app integration, and enhanced communication tools. Whether you're a casual user or a tech enthusiast, this update promises to refine your iPhone experience in meaningful ways. By waiting for the official release, you can enjoy these advancements with confidence, knowing they have been thoroughly tested and optimized. As Apple continues to innovate, iOS 18.4 sets the stage for a more connected, efficient, and expressive digital future. Here is a selection of other guides from our extensive library of content you may find of interest on iOS 18.4.

iOS 18.4 beta with expanded Siri capabilities coming 'fairly soon'

Ever since Apple released iOS 18.3 to the public in late January, we've been waiting for the announcement of the first beta of iOS 18.4 - which is expected to bring major Siri updates and more Apple Intelligence features. Now a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests that the update will be available "fairly soon" for developers. More specifically, Gurman suggests that the first beta of iOS 18.4 will be released to developers sometime between the "middle of next week and early the following week." Last year, iOS 17.4 beta 1 was released on January 25. However, the first beta of iOS 16.4 was released on February 16. With iOS 18.4, Apple is expected to finally introduce long-awaited upgrades to Siri on devices compatible with Apple Intelligence. These include personal context understanding, on-screen awareness, and the ability to control apps. The update is also expected to add Priority Notifications, which will automatically highlight specific notifications with the help of AI. Moreover, Apple has already confirmed that it will expand Apple Intelligence support to more languages for the first time with iOS 18.4. Among the new languages supported will be Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. It's also likely that iOS 18.4 will add new emoji, which have already been revealed by the Unicode Consortium. The new emojis include a fingerprint, face with bags under the eyes, harp, root vegetable, leafless tree, splatter, and a shovel. Of course, we'll keep you updated on when Apple releases iOS 18.4 beta 1. In the meantime, let us know in the comments section below which new feature you're most looking forward to trying out.

iOS 18.4: Features, Release Date, and More

Apple's iOS 18.4 update is poised to bring a range of enhancements designed to improve functionality, usability, and overall user experience. While the first developer beta has experienced a slight delay, it is anticipated to be available within days, followed by a public beta shortly thereafter. This update introduces smarter Siri capabilities, refined notification handling, expanded language support, and other significant improvements. Below is a detailed overview from iReviews of what you can expect from this release. iOS 18.4 introduces a variety of features aimed at making your device more intuitive and efficient. Whether you rely on Siri, manage notifications, or use apps regularly, these updates are designed to streamline your daily interactions. Apple continues its efforts to make its ecosystem more inclusive with expanded language support in iOS 18.4. The update introduces compatibility with several additional languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. This enhancement ensures that users across the globe can interact with Siri and other system features in their native languages, significantly improving accessibility and usability for a diverse audience. iOS 18.4 represents a notable step forward in Apple's artificial intelligence capabilities. The update extends Apple Intelligence to the European Union, making sure compliance with regional regulations while delivering localized features tailored to specific regions. This development underscores Apple's commitment to providing personalized and region-specific experiences for its global user base. By integrating smarter AI tools, Apple aims to enhance how users interact with their devices on a daily basis. The first developer beta of iOS 18.4 is expected to launch within days, with the public beta following approximately one to two weeks later. If you are considering trying the beta version, there are several important factors to keep in mind: As with every iOS update, iOS 18.4 includes critical security patches and bug fixes to ensure your device remains secure and stable. Apple's commitment to maintaining a reliable operating system is evident in these updates, which address vulnerabilities and improve overall performance. Additionally, Apple may release an interim update, iOS 18.3.1, to resolve urgent issues before the full rollout of iOS 18.4. These measures highlight Apple's dedication to delivering a seamless and secure user experience. iOS 18.4 is set to deliver meaningful enhancements that improve how you interact with your device. From smarter Siri functionality and better notification management to expanded language support and app-specific improvements, this update reflects Apple's ongoing focus on usability and innovation. While the developer beta is just around the corner, it is recommended to wait for later beta versions or the public release for a more stable experience. Stay informed as Apple continues to refine its software ecosystem, making sure that your device remains at the forefront of technology. Dive deeper into iOS 18 Features with other articles and guides we have written below.

iOS 18.4 Beta 1 Coming as Soon as Next Week

The first beta of Apple's upcoming iOS 18.4 update could be released as soon as the middle of next week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Next week may be busy with the launch of Apple's new Powerbeats that have a heart rate sensor and the iPhone SE 4, but we could still get the new beta on February 12 or February 13. If Apple waits until the week after that, the software could come on February 18, as February 17 is Presidents' Day, a U.S. a holiday. Apple often follows software releases with new betas, but there has been a delay between iOS 18.3 and the iOS 18.4 beta. Apple released iOS 18.3 11 days ago on Monday, January 27, and we'll be at the two week mark on February 10. It's not unheard of for Apple to take some time between software updates and betas, especially when an update has a lot of new features. Rumors suggest that iOS 18.4 will bring major Apple Intelligence Siri changes, which Apple outlined earlier this year. Siri is set to gain personal context, onscreen awareness, and the ability to do more in and between apps. With Siri's history of performance issues and questionable responses compared to other personal assistants, Apple likely wants to ensure that it gets this new feature set right. The new Siri abilities are one of the major Apple Intelligence features that Apple has already been highlighting in advertising and information about AI, so there are a lot of expectations. The update will also likely bring new emoji characters, some changes to default app options in the European Union, and an expansion of Apple Intelligence to new languages and countries. Apple has already said that Apple Intelligence will expand to additional countries in an April update, so we are expecting iOS 18.4 to be in beta testing through March ahead of an April launch.