Apple unveils iOS 18.2 Beta with exciting new Apple intelligence features

With the release of the iOS 18.2 developer beta, Apple is putting more emphasis on AI with the Apple Intelligence features. Tech fans have been waiting for this move for a long time, especially after OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft made progress. Apple may have been later in the AI race than its rivals, but its most recent updates show that it is very committed to integrating AI.

The iOS 18.2 beta adds a bunch of AI-powered features that are meant to change how you use your iPhone. The update makes using your iPhone smoother and smarter. New improvements focus on making everyday interactions better. For example, AI now makes ideas that are more relevant to the situation, which makes communication and creativity tools better.

Upcoming Apple intelligence features for iPhones in iOS 18.2 Beta

Along with the iOS 18.1 beta, the iOS 18.2 beta brings a number of new features to the Apple Intelligence suite. These include Writing Tools, updates for Siri, Clean Up, Memory Movies in Photos, notice summaries, priority messages in Mail, and transcription summaries for phone calls. These are the new features:

Integrating ChatGPT with Siri

A lot of people are interested in ChatGPT’s integration with the iPhone, which was revealed earlier this year. The very famous AI chatbot that has had a huge amount of success is now coming straight to iPhones. ChatGPT will be built into Siri and Apple’s writing tools, which will make the experience smoother for users.

Through this partnership, Siri can answer more difficult questions by using ChatGPT’s features, which change the way people use their devices. On top of that, you don’t need an OpenAI account to use ChatGPT on your iPhone. This makes it effortless as well as efficient for everyone.

Better AI writing tools

The AI-powered writing tools that Apple first released with iOS 18.1 are getting a big update. You can now use these tools in apps like Mail, Notes, and Pages to do things like editing, rewriting, and suggesting content. With the new feature “Describe your change,” users can change the tone of their writing by choosing choices like “make it sound more formal.” This gives users more control over the style and tone of their content.

Visual intelligence powered by AI

Visual Intelligence is a cool feature that can only be used on the iPhone 16. It uses AI to look at pictures and perform things in real-time. This tool can identify objects, read text, and give you information about things that are related, like translating text and recognizing objects. It improves this feature by connecting to Google Search or ChatGPT, which lets users get more detailed findings right away. 

The camera on the phone can be used to search with Visual Intelligence. Users can get to a new interface that lets them aim the camera viewfinder at an item by holding down the Camera Control button for a while. The iPhone will then be able to look for that item online or ask ChatGPT for more details.

Creative image generation by image playground

Apple has released Image Playground, a new app that lets you make pictures based on text prompts. People can use their own thoughts or pick from Apple’s built-in suggestions to make pictures. Even better, the app goes one step further by suggesting ways to edit photos or even Message conversations based on what users are talking about, like adding costumes or items. 

This new tool makes it easier for iPhone users to be artistic. The new Image Wand tool also lets users get rid of unwanted things in their photos while keeping the background intact. This gives iPhone users more creative options overall.

However, users must ask for separate early access to use Image Playground after the update is installed.

iOS 18.2 Beta limitations

Some users can only access the iOS 18.2 beta right now; these are people who have the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 models, which are the only ones that can fully support the Apple Intelligence features. To get access to the beta, users must sign up for Apple’s test program. This can be done in the Settings app under “Software Updates.” After installing, they can join the Apple Intelligence Waitlist in the settings to make these AI features work.

Users will get the second set of Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.2. This builds on the first set, which includes improvements like a smarter Siri and message summaries, and is set to come out next week with iOS 18.1. Apple first talked about its Apple Intelligence plan at WWDC 2024 in June, saying that the updates would come out in stages.

Apple has also released the first developer beta of macOS Sequoia 15.2. This version has new Apple Intelligence tools, but it doesn’t look like the Genmoji feature will be in this beta version.