Apple has officially released updates for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, making these enhancements available to compatible devices.
A key highlight of these updates is the introduction of features within the Apple Intelligence software suite, which was first unveiled at the WWDC developers conference in June. However, it’s important to note that not all Apple devices are equipped to utilize the new artificial intelligence (AI) functionality. This feature is limited to devices such as the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, all models of the iPhone 16, iPads with A17 Pro chips (including the latest iPad Mini), and Macs with M1 chips or newer.
Once users download the update, they will have the option to enable the Apple Intelligence feature. If they choose to do so, they will be added to a waiting list, with an onboarding process anticipated to take a few hours. This approach reflects a notable shift for Apple, as it requires remote server support for the large language model (LLM)-based service, indicating that the company is preparing for significant demand from users.
Notably, Apple Intelligence is designed to operate with some functions without the need for cloud-based processing. It employs a small model approach, utilizing features trained on a curated dataset to perform specific tasks.
The initial rollout of Apple Intelligence includes integrated writing tools, image enhancement capabilities, article summarization, and improvements to the Siri experience. Additionally, Apple has announced beta versions for iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2, which are set to introduce a range of new features such as Genmoji, Image Playground, Visual Intelligence, Image Wand, and ChatGPT integration. However, Apple has yet to provide a timeline for the official release of these upcoming updates.