Apple strongly implied that Apple Intelligence is coming to the iPhone via iOS 18.1. However, the company is going to release its Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) in a staggered manner.
Which Apple Intelligence features will not arrive in iOS 18.1?
Apple Intelligence is Apple’s version of Gen AI. It was to arrive with the iOS 18.1 update. The upcoming update will include Apple Intelligence. However, Apple is reportedly sending out a few features with this update.
Apple has been advertising its Gen AI image and emoji creation tool called “Image Playground”. Available as a standalone app, Image Playground will let users generate cartoon-style images using any phrase.
Similar to Image Playground, Apple is also delaying the roll out of Genmoji. This feature lets users create any custom emoji. Genmoji will go way beyond emoji characters defined by the Unicode Consortium. It is interesting to note that for this feature to work, an iPhone will have to be running iOS 18.
Apple won’t include Image Wand, an Image Playground-based feature, in iOS 18.1. Similarly, Apple Mail app users won’t get Apple Intelligence for sorting incoming messages into categories automatically.
Apple is also delaying OpenAI’s ChatGPT integration with Apple Intelligence. If that’s not disappointing enough, Apple’s Gen AI is currently available in U.S. English, and that won’t change with iOS 18.1
When will Apple roll out the missing ‘Gen AI’ features?
Apple has confirmed that it is including writing Tools, summaries, and smart replies with the iOS 18.1 update. However, iPhone users will have to wait for iOS 18.2, iOS 18.3, and iOS 18.4 to get the entire bouquet of Apple Intelligence features.
Specifically speaking, before 2024 ends, Apple could release iOS 18.2, which is expected to include Image Playground, Genmoji, and ChatGPT Siri integration. iOS 18.3 could, however, arrive next year. It is expected to bring with it additional features Siri.
Some reports suggest iPhone users could get most of the features with the iOS 18.4 update, expected in the second quarter of 2025. Needless to say, Apple seems to be trailing behind other Gen AI platforms and service providers such as Google and Microsoft.
The iOS 18.1 update too is expected to arrive at the end of this month. This means Apple iPhone users could only get a glimpse of Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1.
