As developers, we’re constantly seeking ways to make apps smarter, faster, and more user-friendly. Apple Intelligence is a set of AI tools that promise to revolutionize the iOS ecosystem. Whether it’s crafting smarter notifications, cleaning up photos, or transcribing phone calls, Apple Intelligence is poised to change the way we develop apps.
The big question is: How do you use it to give your apps an edge? If you’re ready to explore this exciting new frontier, read on to discover what Apple Intelligence can do and how you can use it to elevate your iOS app development.
What Is Apple Intelligence?
At its core, Apple Intelligence is a suite of AI-powered tools designed to make iOS apps smarter and more intuitive. Rolled out with iOS 18 developer beta in July. Apple Intelligence is available to public beta users as of September 2024. These features are not just bells and whistles—they’re practical tools that enhance app usability, personalization, and efficiency. Think of Apple Intelligence as your AI-powered sidekick, offering everything from text summaries to real-time call transcriptions.
What can Apple Intelligence do?
Well, it can proofread your emails, clean up unwanted objects from your photos, and even create personalized Memories based on your images. Understanding and using these Apple AI tools will be key to staying ahead in 2024.
When Does Apple Intelligence Come Out?
Apple Intelligence will be officially released in October 2024 with iOS 18.1. Currently, it is available for users on the iOS 18 developer beta and public beta. Following the official release, full access will be provided to all users.
Apple Intelligence Features
Apple Intelligence introduces several cutting-edge features designed to improve everything from communication to photo management. Here’s a breakdown of the most notable Apple Intelligence features and their availability.
1. Writing Tools
Imagine a built-in editor that proofreads, summarizes, and even changes the tone of your writing. With Apple Intelligence’s writing tools, this is now possible. Whether you’re drafting an email, a social media post, or a lengthy document, the AI can tweak the tone—professional, concise, or friendly. While it occasionally stumbles with controversial topics, the tool is perfect for enhancing everyday communications.
2. New Siri with AI Makeover
Siri has received an upgrade, and it’s not just cosmetic. With an AI-powered revamp, Siri is now better equipped to understand natural language—even when you change your request mid-conversation. This makes it easier to give dynamic commands like “set a timer for 10 minutes… no wait, 15 minutes!” Plus, Siri can now act as a how-to assistant for Apple products, answering questions like, “How do I change my screen brightness?”
3. Image Cleanup in Photos
Apple Intelligence brings a Google Magic Eraser-like feature to the Photos app. It allows users to remove unwanted objects or people from photos with ease. Simply select the unwanted elements, and Apple Intelligence fills the space intelligently, preserving the aesthetic of the picture.
4. New Memories in Photos
The Photos app will now create Memories through prompts. This means that Apple Intelligence can better understand what’s in your images. You can also search for images using natural language, making it easier to find that picture of your dog from last summer.
5. Notification Summaries
No more feeling overwhelmed by multiple notifications! Apple Intelligence will summarize notifications from apps like Mail, Messages, and third-party apps such as WhatsApp. This helps users quickly catch up on important updates without having to scroll endlessly.
6. Mail Summaries
Managing your inbox just got easier. With Apple Intelligence, your Mail app will display a one-line summary of each email. It will even prioritize important emails, placing them at the top of your inbox. Additionally, AI-powered smart replies will help you respond faster to emails.
7. Phone and Notes Updates
One of the most powerful features of Apple Intelligence is its ability to transcribe phone calls in real time. These transcriptions will be saved to the Notes app, allowing you to refer back to important conversations quickly. Voice notes can also be summarized, making note-taking more efficient than ever.
How to Get Apple Intelligence
To access these features, you’ll need to be using the Apple Intelligence beta. Signing up for the beta is simple through Apple’s developer portal, and from there, you can test and integrate these AI features into your apps. Once the official release is available in October, expect a smooth transition for beta users into the full feature set of iOS 18.1.
How to enable Apple Intelligence?
Once you’ve updated to iOS 18.1, tweaking your app settings to take advantage of Apple Intelligence features like AI-powered notifications and real-time photo editing is simple.
How to Use Apple Intelligence
Here’s a step-by-step guide to using Apple Intelligence effectively.
Step 1: Get the Latest iOS 18 Beta or Update
To start using Apple Intelligence, you’ll need access to iOS 18.1, which is currently available to developers and public beta testers. Follow these steps to get started:
- Enroll in the iOS Developer Beta Program through Apple’s Developer Portal.
- Download the latest beta version of iOS 18.1 on a compatible device (iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, or iPhone 16 series).
- Once released in October, update your iPhone to iOS 18.1 if you’re not on the beta version.
Step 2: Activate Apple Intelligence Features
Apple Intelligence is embedded into various apps and system functionalities, so you don’t need to install additional software. Here’s how to activate some of its core features:
Writing Tools
These AI-powered tools can proofread, summarize, or change the tone of text (e.g., professional, concise, or friendly).
- How to Use Writing Tools :
- Open any app that involves typing (e.g., Mail, Messages, Notes).
- As you type, suggestions for summaries or tone adjustments will appear.
- Choose from available AI-powered tone suggestions or summaries for quick edits.
Writing tools can be used for Emails, social media posts, and work documents.
New Siri with AI Overhaul
Siri’s AI makeover allows it to handle more complex commands and chat interactions with better context understanding.
- How to Use New Siri with AI Overhaul :
- Activate Siri by voice or by tapping the screen.
- Give Siri dynamic commands such as “Set a timer for 10 minutes… no wait, 15 minutes.”
- For text-based interactions, tap Siri at the bottom of your screen to type out your queries.
- Ask Siri how-to questions about Apple products or for assistance with settings.
New Siri with AI Overhaul can be great for Setting timers, managing schedules, and adjusting device settings.
Image Cleanup in Photos
Similar to Google’s Magic Eraser, you can remove unwanted objects or people from photos with this tool.
- How to Use Image Cleanup in Photos:
- Open the Photos app and select an image.
- Tap on Edit and choose the new Image Cleanup tool.
- Manually select or draw over unwanted objects or people in the photo.
- Press the cleanup button to remove the elements.
Image Cleanup can be ideal for Editing travel photos, event pictures, or any images with distracting background objects.
Photo Memories and Search
AI-driven Memories and enhanced image search allow you to organize and search photos based on prompts or natural language queries.
- How to Use Photo Memories and Search :
- Open the Photos app.
- Go to the Memories section to view AI-generated photo collections.
- The search bar allows you to find images using phrases like “dog in the park” or “summer vacation.”
It can work best when you are finding specific photos quickly and creating meaningful photo collections.
Step 3: Customize Notifications and Mail Summaries
AI-powered notification summaries will group updates from various apps to give you a concise overview of important messages.
- How to Use:
- Go to Settings > Notifications.
- Enable Notification Summaries for apps like Mail, Messages, and third-party apps like WhatsApp.
- View your summarized notifications in the notification center.
This can help you Keep track of important updates without being overwhelmed by alerts.
Mail Summaries
The Mail app will use Apple Intelligence to provide a summary of your emails and prioritize important messages.
- How to Use:
- Open the Mail app.
- At the top of your inbox, you’ll see AI-generated one-line summaries of your emails.
- Use the smart replies feature for quick email responses based on AI suggestions.
You can manage your email efficiently and quickly respond to important emails with Mail Summaries.
Step 4: Transcribe and Summarize Calls and Voice Notes
One of the standout features of Apple Intelligence is the ability to transcribe phone calls and voice notes and generate summaries.
- How to Use:
- During a phone call, you’ll see an option to record and transcribe the call.
- After the call, the transcription will be saved in the Notes app.
- Voice notes saved in the Notes app will also have the option for AI-powered summaries.
You can capitalize on this feature when making business calls or meetings or capturing important conversations.
As an iOS app developer, this is the perfect time to start incorporating Apple Intelligence into your apps, giving users more interactive and intelligent experiences. So go ahead, explore these features, and stay ahead in the ever-evolving iOS ecosystem!
Upcoming Features and What’s Next?
The AI capabilities don’t stop here. Apple is continually working to enhance Apple Intelligence, with several exciting features expected in the coming months:
- Image Playground and Genmoji: This will allow for AI-generated images and custom emojis.
- Priority Notifications: Customizable notifications based on urgency.
- Siri: Personal Context and In-app Actions: Siri will offer deeper, more personalized experiences, allowing users to perform actions directly within apps.
These features are expected to roll out to beta users first and expand to all users over the next year.
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Apple Intelligence Compatibility
Apple Intelligence is compatible with the following devices:
- iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
- iPhone 16 Series
The features will be available with the release of iOS 18.1 in October 2024. However, due to hardware limitations, some AI features may need to be fully supported for earlier models.
As with any new technology, there are regional restrictions. Unfortunately, Apple Intelligence won’t be available in China and parts of the EU due to privacy regulations. However, by late 2024, localized English support will roll out in regions like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. Additional languages like Chinese, German, and Japanese will follow in 2025.
How Developers Use Apple Intelligence in iOS App Development
As a leading iOS app development agency, we are always at the forefront of innovation. Apple Intelligence opens up new opportunities for our app developers to create smarter, more efficient apps.
With a range of new APIs, App Intents, and frameworks, certified iOS mobile app developers at TechnBrains easily integrate system-level features to enhance functionality and user experience. Here’s how:
- Siri Integration: Our Developers capitalize on Siri’s enhanced AI capabilities to allow users to control app features via voice commands or text input. This makes apps more interactive and accessible, providing users with a seamless hands-free experience.
- Writing Tools: We integrate AI-powered Writing Tools into the iOS apps to help users with tasks like proofreading, summarizing, or even changing the tone of their text. This is especially beneficial for apps focused on communication, content creation, or productivity.
- Image Playground: TechnBrains developers utilize the Image Playground feature to enable users to remove unwanted objects from images or enhance visuals. This tool allows apps to offer advanced image editing capabilities without the need for external software.
By incorporating these advanced AI features, TechnBrains can create an iOS app that is not only more powerful but also intuitive and user-friendly.
With Apple Intelligence, apps become more personalized, responsive, and capable of effortlessly handling complex tasks.
So what are you waiting for? Get your Apple Intelligence Powered iOS App with TechnBrains now!
