iOS 18 beta 1 brought some of the promised new changes, but it doesn’t include Siri improvements, ChatGPT access, or many of Apple’s Intelligence features (although there are a few exceptions).
Apple hasn’t revealed an exact timetable for each of the new features, presumably to avoid making promises it can’t keep, but there are some hints of what we can expect when…
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman provides a summary of what to expect, based on a mix of analysis Apple did during WWDC and an interview with sources involved in the development of Apple Intelligence.
Siri improvements – some coming soon, most next year
Of course, the main improvements to Siri will come via Apple Intelligence, but Gurman says we can expect some features before then.
The version of Siri that launches this year with iOS 18 will still have some new bells and whistles. It will boast a slick new interface and will be able to have a more natural conversation. Siri will also understand users better – even if they don’t speak well – and will be more knowledgeable about Apple products. And there’s an improved Type to Siri option for asking questions with text instead of speaking.
But the really big stuff, turning Siri into a truly intelligent assistant, won’t arrive until 2025.
This includes what is arguably the biggest improvement: Siri’s ability to access your personal data on your device to respond to highly personalized requests — such as Apple’s demo during a keynote.
A person asks when their mother’s flight is landing, and Siri figures it out based on previous text conversations and emails. Siri could also pull up a podcast your spouse sent last week, or access a document your colleague emailed earlier that day.
App interaction also won’t arrive until next year. When that happens, Siri will be able to respond to requests like finding the last photo you took of Sarah in the red jacket, cropping it into a square, and sending it to her.
The same will be true of on-screen awareness, giving Siri the ability to understand context.
For example, if you’re texting a friend about LeBron James, you’ll be able to ask, “How many points did he score last night?” and get an answer.
ChatGPT support is coming this year
Gurman points to Apple’s language that suggests ChatGPT support is coming later this year.
This is interesting because Apple has positioned it as a kind of fallback option – for those questions that the brand new Siri powered by Apple Intelligence can’t answer. But the plan was always that ChatGPT (and future competing chatbots) would deal with more general knowledge-style queries.
More features promised this year
Apple also specifically named some other features as “coming later this year.”
- Mail app categorizing mail (but not smart replies)
- Home app support for robotic cleaners
- Drag and drop files between Apple devices (easier for AirDrop)
- 3D video editing in Final Cut Pro
- Advanced Mac virtual display mode for Vision Pro
- Five simultaneous live sports streams in the Apple TV app on Vision Pro
- Swift Assist, for developers
Gurman suggests these will arrive in iOS 18.1 or 18.2, which would historically indicate some arriving in October and the rest in December.
I’ve previously talked about the Apple Intelligence features I’d most like to try out; what about you Please let us know in the comments.
Image: 9to5Mac collage of images by Apple and Avinash Kumar on Unsplash
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