What Are the Features of "Apple Intelligence" Set to Release at the End of This Month?

The features of "Apple Intelligence" are set to be released in the system update named "iOS 18.1" (Shutterstock)

In a report published by Bloomberg, tech expert Mark Gurman revealed that Apple's AI-powered "Apple Intelligence" features will begin rolling out in the iOS 18.1 system update, expected to release on October 28, one month after the launch of the iPhone 16, which prominently highlighted AI features.

Although Apple delayed the release of these features by a month after the new phone’s debut, not all "Apple Intelligence" capabilities will be available at once. Apple has opted for a gradual release of its AI features, a departure from its usual approach. Why did the company adopt this strategy, and what features are expected at the end of this month?

Diverse "Apple Intelligence" Features

Apple introduced the "Apple Intelligence" branding for its AI capabilities, which took center stage during the iPhone 16 launch. Unlike other companies that generally refer to their AI advancements simply as AI, Apple named its features uniquely to signify their distinctiveness.

The features in "Apple Intelligence" can be categorized into three main parts: text and writing tools, image editing and generation, and enhanced "Siri" capabilities.

The text and writing tools in "Apple Intelligence" can be seen as an extension of common tools like ChatGPT, allowing users to generate or summarize texts in various apps that rely on text input.

The image features encompass generating images or emojis from text prompts and editing photos by removing unwanted elements or enhancing the visual appeal of the image.

Lastly, the new Siri AI upgrades make the personal assistant smarter and better able to fulfill user requests by being more aware of on-screen content and other app functions. This means Siri can now respond to messages, summarize significant events, and carry out tasks previously managed manually.

Writing and Text Features: The First to Launch

According to Bloomberg, the first "Apple Intelligence" feature to be rolled out will be the enhanced writing and text editing tools, available through the native text editor and email applications.

The update also includes alert summarization and prioritization, along with a redesigned interface for Siri. However, it remains unclear whether Siri will gain immediate access to new features that expand its ability to interact across alerts and applications.

While Bloomberg suggests that integrating ChatGPT-like features for text generation and summarization into the system may be delayed, other reports indicate that these features might debut with the iOS 18.1 update.

This means that image generation and editing capabilities, including removing unwanted objects, may be deferred to the iOS 18.2 update, expected in December.

Some smaller features may even be held back for the iOS 18.4 update, anticipated in March 2025, potentially including more advanced Siri abilities and finer app control.

All these features will be exclusive to iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro models, as Apple stated in its official release that standard iPhone 15 models and older devices lack the processing power for these advanced AI functions.

Why is Apple Delaying Some Features?

In the past, Apple would delay less impactful features in major updates, releasing the core feature with the initial launch. However, the approach with "Apple Intelligence" is quite different.

While there are no official reports explaining the delay, speculation suggests that some of the AI features were announced before they were fully ready for release. When the update date arrived, Apple found that certain "Apple Intelligence" features were not yet optimized for heavy use.

By releasing the update without all AI functionalities and rolling out features gradually, Apple ensures the quality of upcoming features while avoiding typical generative AI issues, such as erroneous text or image outputs. However, this phased release approach may impact Apple’s image as a company known for consistent rollout timelines.