Apple Intelligence is getting closer to being ready for release. Apple has released the public beta of iOS 18.1, which includes some of the key generative ai features the company has been touting in recent months.
We’ll have to wait a few more weeks for the public versions of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 18.1 to bring Apple Intelligence features to everyone with a compatible device. The public betas should be more stable and less risky to install than the developer betas, but it’s still worth backing up your data to your computer or iCloud before installing this version of iOS 18.1 on your iPhone.
Right now, the only iPhones that support Apple Intelligence are the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, but that will change on Friday when Apple launches the iPhone 16 lineup. iPads and M-series Macs will also support Apple Intelligence.
For now, you'll need to have your device and Siri language set to US English to access Apple Intelligence tools. If you want to use Apple Intelligence in a language other than English (or a localized version of English), you may have to wait until at least December for public versions of operating systems that support it to become available.
Apple is gradually rolling out Apple Intelligence tools over the coming months, so not all of them will be available right away. The initial wave of features includes the ability to transcribe phone calls (and audio notes in the Notes app) and get summaries of key details. Also included are writing tools (rewrite, proofread, and summarize), email prioritization and smart replies, notification summaries, and photo cleanup features. You’ll be able to create Memories in the revamped Photos apps, and check out the first incarnation of Siri, redesigned and brightened up (including the ability to type requests to the assistant).
For other features, such as ChatGPT integration, Genmoji, Image Playground (i.e. image generation), and Siri's ability to better understand personal context, Apple will be rolling these out in the coming months.
How to get the new Apple Intelligence features
On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and select the iOS 18 public beta option. Once the iOS 18.1 public beta is available for your device, you’ll see it on the Software Update page. You may need to free up some space before you can install the beta. To enable Apple Intelligence, go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Join Apple Intelligence Waiting List.
The process for installing the public beta is nearly identical on iPad. On your Mac, you'll need to go to System Settings > General > Software Update. Click the information symbol next to the “Beta Updates” option, and you should be able to install the iOS 18.1 public beta from there when it's available.
