At the Worldwide Developers Conference last week, Apple didn’t announce anything about Apple Intelligence. But even if it did, we would still have to wait until fall for the new operating systems to be out so we could use them. You could live on the edge and install the first developer betas now, though.
I want to teach you about six features that I use practically every day if you have an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16E, iPhone 16, or iPhone 16 Pro (or one of its Plus or Max variants).
Apple Intelligence is currently in beta, which means that more features will be added over time.You could not like Apple Intelligence, or you might want to wait till the tools grow better before you utilize them. You may instantly switch off Apple Intelligence or only use certain of its features.
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I love this feature already, even though it just came out. If you get a notification that looks more important than others, Prioritize Notifications places it to the top of the lock screen’s notification list (with a colorful Apple Intelligence shimmer, of course). So far, I’ve gotten weather alerts, messages from people I communicate with a lot, and emails telling me to do something or that a deadline is coming up.
To make it function, go to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications and turn on the option. You may also toggle on or off priority notifications for some applications from the same screen. So far, the AI algorithms seem to be doing a good job of choosing what to prioritize.
Summaries make your email easier to read.
In a time when there are so many things that need our attention and it seems like we have less time to learn about lengthier topics… What was I saying?
Oh, right: How many times have you wished for a “too long; didn’t read” version of the long emails and the constant stream of messages that come your way? The iPhone makes a quick, one-sentence summary of a notice, such a text from a friend or group in Messages.
Siri gets a makeover and is easier to use.
I found it funny that the full-screen, color-at-the-edges Siri animation, which is Apple’s key visual sign of intelligence, was missing from the iOS 18 and iPhone 16 launches. Apple even lighted up the corners of the huge glass cube that makes up its Apple Fifth Avenue Store in New York City, just like Siri does.
As on iOS 18.1, the new Siri appearance is here, but only on devices that feature Apple Intelligence. I can help you turn on the new experience if you’re still viewing the old one.
There are certain enhancements to how Siri interacts with you with the new look: It’s easier to get through a question if you make a mistake, such as pronouncing the wrong word or stopping in the middle of a thought. It’s also better at listening after giving findings, so you may ask follow-up questions that are connected.
But you won’t be able to tailor replies based on what Apple Intelligence knows about you for a while. As of iOS 18.2, Chat GPT was added, and you may now utilize it as a different source of information. If Siri doesn’t know the answer to a question straight away, you can choose to utilize Chat GPT instead. You don’t need a ChatGPT account to use this, but if you do, you may sign in.
Use Siri without making everyone else’s gadgets go off.
One of my favorite new Siri features is that I can bring her up without shouting “Hey Siri” out loud. I have HomePods in my house, and my family members each have their own iPhones and iPads. I never know which one will answer my call, even though they’re supposed to be clever enough to figure it out.
And to be honest, I’m still not always comfortable chatting on my phone, especially in public. To get the Siri search bar and the on-screen keyboard to show up on your iPhone or iPad, double-tap the bottom edge of the screen.
To get Siri to search without talking, double-tap the bar at the bottom of the screen.
On a Mac, go to System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and pick a keyboard shortcut, such as Press Either Command Key Twice.
Yes, this takes more typing than just talking, but I can ask more precise questions and not have to worry about whether my robot companion understands what I’m saying.
Use Clean Up in the Photos app to get rid of anything that is in the way of your photographs.
The Photos app now has Clean Up, an AI-powered tool for removing things. When you edit a picture and hit the Clean Up button, the iPhone looks at the picture and offers things to eliminate by highlighting them. Tap on something or draw a circle around it. The app will delete certain regions and use generative AI to fill in the gaps with pixels that make sense.
Use Clean Up to get rid of anything that are getting in the way in the Photos app. This first version of Clean Up isn’t flawless, and you’ll usually obtain better results with other image editors that are made just for that. But it’s good for rapidly getting rid of things that bother you in images.
With the AI-powered Reduce Interruptions Focus mode, you can stay on task.
Focus modes on the iPhone may be quite useful. For example, putting on Do Not Disturb can help you stay focused by blocking off outside distractions. You may also make your own Focus modes. For instance, my Podcast Recording option only lets a few individuals send me alerts during set recording times.
If you turn on Apple Intelligence, you’ll see a new Reduce Interruptions Focus setting. When it’s enabled, it works better as a filter for what goes through the wall that keeps unnecessary alerts from getting through. Things that aren’t on your list of approved alerts, like certain persons, can nonetheless show up. For example, on my iPhone, there may be weather warnings or SMS from my bank when I make a big purchase or move money.
Disclaimer
This article is based on early access and beta features of Apple Intelligence available through developer previews of iOS 18 and related Apple software. Functionality, availability, and performance may change before the official public release. Features discussed here may require specific hardware (e.g., iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 series) and may not be available in all regions.
The author is sharing personal experiences and opinions for informational purposes only. This is not official guidance from Apple Inc. Always back up your device and proceed with caution before installing beta software.