Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 unveiled the upcoming iOS 18, bringing a slew of exciting features, including a revamped Photos app, new writing tools, enhanced Siri, and more home screen customization. Apple Intelligence, Apple’s own brand of AI tools, will be a large part of all the new software updates, including iOS 18. However, due to hardware constraints and the power necessary for AI, not all iPhones that can run iOS 18 will be able to get Apple Intelligence.
One of the standout features in iOS 18 is the new Photos app, which boasts a simplified interface and the ability to pin collections and memories. It also leverages Apple Intelligence to enhance search functionality, allowing users to search for specific moments within videos using natural language phrases. Another noteworthy addition is the Clean Up tool, which uses Apple Intelligence to identify and remove distracting objects in the background of photos, a feature that has been popular on Android phones with Google Photos’ Magic Eraser. With iOS 18, users will no longer need to rely on third-party apps for this functionality.
For those who rely heavily on writing, iOS 18 brings new system-wide writing tools powered by Apple Intelligence. While the Rewrite tool is not for everyone, the Proofread and Summarization tools are likely to be helpful. The Proofread tool aims to assist users in ensuring proper spelling and grammar, while the Summarization tool provides a concise overview of lengthy texts, saving time and effort.
Beyond AI-powered features, iOS 18 offers a range of enhancements for user experience. The new home screen customization allows for more personalization, with options for icon tinting and a more Android-like experience. The Control Center also receives a much-needed update, offering more flexibility in arranging controls and providing third-party app integration.
Apple is finally bringing RCS support to the Messages app, a significant addition that has been long awaited. While the company didn’t elaborate much on the implementation, it’s a welcome step towards improving cross-platform messaging. Additionally, the Send Later feature for iMessages, while already available on Android devices, is a nice addition for those who need to schedule messages.
With Apple Intelligence integrated into Siri, the virtual assistant promises to be more natural, relevant, and personal. Users can expect improved speech recognition, context awareness, and the ability to handle multiple requests in one go. However, as Apple Intelligence is not yet available in the initial iOS 18 developer beta, the actual improvement remains to be seen.
While AI is proving to be a powerful tool, the ethical implications surrounding image generation remain a concern. iOS 18 introduces Image Playground, a standalone app and integrated feature within various first-party apps, allowing users to create original images based on text prompts. While Apple claims to use high-quality, licensed data for training its image-generation models, the inherent use of existing artistic creations by artists and creators raises ethical concerns.
Despite the ethical issues surrounding AI image generation, iOS 18 offers a multitude of exciting features that users can look forward to. The increased home screen customization, customizable lock screen shortcuts, a better Control Center, and improved photo and video search capabilities are some of the highlights. With the final version of iOS 18 expected in the fall alongside the iPhone 16, users can expect a significant upgrade to their iPhone experience.
