Apple is finally releasing some of the Apple Intelligence features it announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
However, the rollout is currently limited to the developer beta of iOS 18.1, so if you don't want to deal with buggy software in the early stages, you might want to wait for the public beta Apple Intelligence feature release or the stable release later this year.
If you're using the Developer Beta, you can only use Apple Intelligence features if your language is set to US English and your region is set to the U.S. This does not affect your App Store region or purchasing.
Here's how to get started with Apple Intelligence features:
Open the Settings app. Go to the Apple Intelligence and Siri menu. Tap the “Join the Apple Intelligence Waiting List” option.
You will be notified once your place on the waitlist has been accepted. It may take some time for the system to download all the models and data required to run Apple Intelligence. You can toggle off the Apple Intelligence feature from the menu at any time.
Image credit: Apple
Apple's AI suite of features works through a combination of on-device and Apple Private Cloud requests, and Apple says the waitlist is to ensure there is enough service capacity.
Currently, Apple Intelligence is only compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPads and Macs powered by the M1 chip.
Available Features
New Siri: Powered by Apple Intelligence, Siri now has new animations. Plus, if you're in a noisy place or in a meeting, you can text Siri anytime by double-tapping the bottom bar. Siri can handle your stuttering, so if you say, “Hey Siri, set a timer for 10 minutes, no, 15 minutes,” it will set a timer for 15 minutes. How-to questions: You can also ask Siri for Apple system-related how-tos, like “How do I record my screen?” Writing tools: You can now change the formatting of text system-wide. Use Proofread to check for spelling and grammatical errors, and Rewrite to rewrite selected text without significantly changing the meaning. You can also change the tone of your text with three options: Friendly, Professional, and Concise. You can summarize text to generate lists, main points, and tables. Mail app: The Mail app now displays a one-line summary of your emails without having to open them. Apple Intelligence brings important emails to the top of your inbox. You can also quickly reply to emails with AI-generated smart replies. Photos: You can now search for photos using natural language queries. Plus, you can create memories with prompts. Notification summaries: Apple Intelligence will also show a summary of notifications for select Mail and Messages. Call transcription: Apple Intelligence now lets you record phone calls with the tap of a button. Recordings are saved in a new “Call Recordings” folder in the Notes app. Audio support in Notes app: You can also record and transcribe audio directly in the Notes app. Apple's AI suite will also automatically create summaries.
Apple Intelligence does not yet have features like the ability to remove unwanted objects in photos, emojis, Image Playground, or ChatGPT interaction, and there is no set time when these features will be available for testing.