iOS 18.1 to 18.4: This is how Apple plans to roll out Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence will not be activated when the iPhone 16 is released in its four versions next Friday. Instead, Apple is planning a (very) gradual rollout of its AI systems, which will not end with iOS 18.1. Instead, it will probably take until spring 2025 or even longer for all the announced features to be available. In Europe, however, things look even worse: Here, due to Apple’s fear of being regulated by the Digital Market Act (DMA), there is not even a rough release schedule set.

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Step by step, even outside the EU

First of all, Apple will present iOS 18.1 in October – and thus the first version of iOS with the first Apple intelligence functions. This means: Anyone who buys an iPhone 16 in the USA will not get the AI ​​system from the start and will have to wait for an update. iOS 18.1 offers, among other things, new writing tools to rewrite, correct or summarize text, reply suggestions in the Messages and Email apps and a summary of notifications in Mail, Messages and third-party apps.

There’s a new “clean up” tool for the Photos app, as well as recording and transcription of phone calls in English. Also announced are new AI-based “reviews” in the Photos app, a new Focus mode that will automatically show only important messages and summaries in Safari’s Reading mode. Voice assistant Siri gets some of the features promised by Apple, including new animation and (better) understanding of follow-up questions – or the ability to correct questions.

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iOS 18.2 to 18.4: The big AI finale is still open

iOS 18.2 is expected to arrive later this year, possibly in December. Then the image generator function can be expected that Apple announced in the summer. This refers to the so-called Image Playground, with which you can create illustrations and comic-like images using text prompts or from photo templates, as well as the Zenmoji function, a way to create your own emojis through prompts. If iOS 18.2 remains this year and there are no further updates, ChatGPT support for Siri, which is announced for this year, will probably also appear at this point.

We continue with iOS 18.3 and 18.4, which are expected from the beginning of the year until spring. It is unclear whether iOS 18.3 includes new AI features – but iOS 18.4 should finally include the real “new Siri”. This includes knowing the personal context, for example understanding system-wide searches, being able to read the screen and controlling apps more closely. New languages ​​for Apple Intelligence are also not expected before 2025. So far, Apple has only announced French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese and Chinese – there is no mention of German, even for Switzerland, which should already receive Apple Intelligence officially with iOS 18.1.

(B.Sc.)