Apple Intelligence may be delayed until October, but that doesn’t mean developers don’t get a chance to play with what’s there in the meantime.
Apple on Monday provided developers with the first betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, with the new software introducing an early version of the Apple Intelligence features. These new betas will be in testing alongside the current iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia 15 betas.
Developers can choose to opt into the new beta, or continue using the standard iOS 18/iPadOS 18/macOS Beta track. Users will require an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, or an iPad or Mac with an Apple silicon chip is required to use Apple Intelligence, and only eligible devices will see the updates.
Once installed, Apple Intelligence can be turned on over in the Settings app. There is currently an Apple Intelligence Waitlist that developers must opt into, but access should be granted within a few hours.
At present, users can try out several Apple Intelligence features such as Writing Tools, the revamped Siri, the option to move between voice commands and typing to Siri, summaries for transcripts and other content, the new Mail categories and smart replies, smart replies in Messages, and more.
The functions are as follows:
“With Writing Tools, you can rewrite, spellcheck, grammar check, and summarize text in Messages, Notes, Mail, Pages, and other apps where you write. Summaries also work for transcripts in the Notes app.
Siri’s updated design shows a glow around the edges of the screen when Siri is activated, and tapping at the bottom of the display allows you to type to Siri rather than use voice commands. Siri has all of Apple’s product knowledge and Apple’s support database, so you can ask for help, plus the personal assistant can maintain context between requests and better follow along if you stumble over your words or change your mind when speaking.
Mail supports summaries of messages along with Smart Reply options, with Smart Reply also available for the Messages app. The Reduce Interruptions Focus mode is available to filter out unimportant notifications while surfacing notifications you need immediately, such as a ride arriving.
Photos supports Memories, so you can create a slideshow with natural language requests, and there’s natural language for search. Search now encompasses videos so you can get right to the video segment you’re looking for.”
Features that have yet to be incorporated into the beta include Image Playground, Genmoji, ChatGPT integration, the option to erase objects in Photos, Priority Notifications, and other Siri capabilities like the ability to do more in apps and on-screen awareness. These features and others will be rolled out over time, with Apple offering regular updates.
It’s unknown as to when Apple will release an Apple Intelligence beta outside of the developer community to the public beta. The full version of the software is expected to be released in the fall, with the current guesstimate landing around October.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via MacRumors and developer.apple.com