When will AI features arrive on iPhones?
Last Monday, Apple announced the new iPhone 16 series , which includes 4 phones of different sizes, which feature advanced artificial intelligence capabilities thanks to the features of ( Apple Intelligence ).
However, Apple intends to launch the new AI features in successive stages during this year and next year, starting next October. Therefore, iPhone 16 users who are looking forward to taking advantage of these features will have to wait a little while, as their launch dates will vary by region and language.
Here's the detailed timeline for rolling out these new features, as revealed by Apple:
First, what features will arrive in the final version of iOS 18.1?
Apple confirmed during the unveiling event for the new iPhone 16 phones that the new artificial intelligence features will not be available in the new phones when they ship on September 20, but will reach users in iOS 18 updates over the coming months.
Apple will release the final version of iOS 18.1 next October, and this update will include a set of Apple Intelligence features, including:
1- Creative writing tools:
New writing tools will let you easily rephrase, summarize, and proofread text in any app you use, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.
The new writing tools include several tools, namely:
- Rewrite tool: Allows you to rewrite texts, changing their wording and style to suit the intended audience and the task you are working on, such as: using a professional style when modifying a cover letter, or using humor when writing an invitation to attend a party.
- Proofread: Allows you to check texts for grammar and spelling errors, while also providing suggestions for modifications, accompanied by an explanation of these modifications so that you can quickly review or accept them.
- Summarize tool: Allows you to select text and summarize it into easy-to-read paragraphs, short information points, a table, or a list.
2- Advantages of photo editing:
Some of the new Apple Intelligence features will be available in the Photos app, including: the new Clean Up tool, which allows you to edit photos by identifying distracting objects in the background and removing them without affecting the main subject, which is very similar to the Magic Eraser tool that Google offers on its phones.
There will also be a “Search in Video” feature, which allows you to find specific moments in videos and go directly to the relevant part.
3- Summaries of audio recordings:
The iOS 18.1 update also includes a feature to summarize audio recordings, whether in the Notes app or phone calls, which uses advanced AI techniques to convert recordings into useful text summaries.
4- New features in the email application:
The Mail app in iOS 18.1 will see a major transformation thanks to new AI features. The Mail app will include a new Priority Messages section at the top that will show only important emails, and you’ll also see a summary of each message instead of just previewing the first few lines of each message.
You can also use the new Summarize button to summarize messages, plus the new Smart Reply feature will provide you with quick response suggestions and will identify all questions included in the message to ensure everything is answered.
5- Improvements in Siri:
Siri will see significant improvements in iOS 18.1, becoming more capable of understanding complex commands and interrupting while speaking. Siri will also maintain the context of the conversation from one request to another, making interaction with it smoother. It will also become easier to switch between entering data by voice or typing, depending on what suits your needs at any given moment.
It is worth noting that all of these features are the same ones that Apple was testing in the beta versions of the iOS 18.1 update with developers, and when launched, these features will be available in American English only, and will still carry the (beta) label, as Apple seeks to develop them continuously based on user feedback.
Second, what features will arrive on iPhones before the end of the year?
The second batch of Apple Intelligence features will arrive in iOS 18.2, which is likely to start rolling out later this year, and will include:
1- Image Playground:
Image Playground lets you create creative, original, and fun images in seconds from text. Plus, it lets you choose from three image creation styles: Animation, Illustration, and Sketch.
This tool is able to understand the context of its use, so it offers suggestions for creating custom images that fit the content of the conversation or written text. For example, it can suggest images related to messages in the conversation.
2- Genmoji generator tool:
iOS 18.2 will also include Genmoji, which lets you generate custom emoji from text, or create Genmoji for your friends and family using their photos. You can use these emojis directly in text messages to express your feelings and thoughts in a creative way, or share them as a sticker or reaction code just like emoji.
3- Integration with ChatGPT:
ChatGPT is also scheduled to arrive on Apple's operating systems at the end of this year, allowing you to get instant answers to any question that comes to your mind, and you can also use ChatGPT to write messages, articles, and more.
Third, what features will arrive on your phone in the first half of 2025?
Siri will see major improvements in the first half of 2025, as it will integrate with a wide range of third-party applications, allowing you to easily get information and perform tasks faster.
It will also be able to understand and analyze the content you use on the screen (On-screen Awareness), allowing you to ask questions about what appears on your device screen to interact with it. When someone sends an address in an instant messaging app, you can ask Siri to add the address directly to that person's contact.
In addition, Apple's AI features will be available in new languages including Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish in the first half of 2025. Apple has decided to focus on supporting English only in the first year of launching these features, in order to ensure high quality and efficient performance.
Limited expansion next year:
The company plans to expand support for additional languages and new regions next year, but faces significant challenges due to regulatory restrictions in regions such as the European Union and China.
Apple has announced that it will not launch Apple Intelligence features on iPhones and iPads in the European Union for the time being, due to uncertainty over the new Digital Services Act that imposes restrictions on major tech companies.
However, these features will be available on Mac devices in the European Union, where these devices are not subject to the same regulatory restrictions.
Additionally, Apple is looking to launch Apple Intelligence features in China, but it faces significant regulatory challenges in that market and is working to overcome them. As a result, the distribution of these features will be limited at first, focusing on the English language and regions that do not impose significant regulatory restrictions.