Apple Intelligence: How iOS 18 is Putting Smart, Private AI in Your Pocket

AI-written, human-edited.

On iOS Today podcast hosts Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard discuss the exciting new features coming in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. Fresh off Apple's announcements at WWDC, the duo unpacked how Apple is thoughtfully weaving artificial intelligence into the core experience through Apple Intelligence.

One of the standout additions is smart image generation powered by on-device machine learning. Users will be able to create personalized emoji, enhance photos, and even remove unwanted objects or people from images - all while preserving privacy by processing everything locally on your iPhone or iPad when possible. Apple is taking a characteristically restrained approach, but make no mistake, generative AI is coming to iOS in a big way.

iOS 18 is also packed with enhancements to the core apps you use every day. The Notes and Reminders apps are getting supercharged with smart suggestions, document scanning, and powerful handwriting recognition. You'll be able to brainstorm and capture your ideas more naturally than ever. Mail is becoming more intelligent as well, with automated categorization, smart search, and one-tap unsubscribe.

Accessibility is another major theme, with Apple leveraging AI to make iOS more inclusive. Live captions are expanding to calls and FaceTime, VoiceOver descriptions are more detailed, and Apple is even using machine learning to detect and describe important sounds around you. iOS is for everyone.

For Shortcuts enthusiasts and automation fans, iOS 18 has some exciting updates in store. With Siri getting more contextually aware, you'll be able to trigger shortcuts hands-free based on your current activity. AirPods are also getting new smart features that will allow you to activate shortcuts and smart home scenes with simple head gestures. It's a taste of how AI will make automation more seamless and integrated in the future.

Of course, this only scratches the surface of what Mikah and Rosemary covered in their iOS 18 deep dive. Be sure to listen to the full episode of iOS Today to hear their complete reactions and perspectives on all the new features. As Apple continues its "slow but steady" embrace of AI, it's clear iOS and iPadOS are evolving in powerful new ways. The future is intelligent, and it's already here in your pocket.

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