- Apple Intelligence finally arrives on some devices via iOS 18.1, but with limited availability.
- The current version of Apple Intelligence is only available in US English and requires compatible devices with M1 chips or higher.
- Siri, Photos, and Mail are the apps that have received the most improvements with this initial update of IA.
- Apple Intelligence promises to transform and expand even further, with new features like Genmoji and Visual Intelligence coming in December 2024.
Apple has made it clear that it wants to join the artificial intelligence race with a unique approach. With the release of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, the Cupertino company has officially unveiled the first features of its Apple Intelligence technology . However, not everyone will be able to try it for now, as this first wave of features is limited to US English and devices with an M1 chip or higher.
This is the first glimpse of what promises to be a complete transformation of the Apple ecosystem thanks to artificial intelligence, bringing improvements ranging from Siri interaction to email organization in Mail. While Apple Intelligence isn't natively available in countries like Spain or in languages other than American English, it has already offered a preview of what's to come.
First Apple Intelligence features available
Among the first tools that are already active thanks to Apple Intelligence, we can highlight several improvements in native applications such as Siri, Photos, and Mail:
- Siri more powerful: With iOS 18.1, Siri has received a major upgrade in its ability to understand context and maintain a fluid conversation between different requests. Apple has worked to make Siri much more natural, able to understand us even when we pause or correct ourselves in the middle of a sentence. This assistant not only responds more accurately, but can now make use of the integration with ChatGPT to provide richer, more detailed responses in some scenarios.
- Writing and correcting with intelligence: Apple has integrated a tool called Writing Tools, which allows users to edit texts much more precisely. You can now rewrite texts, correct grammatical errors or adjust the tone of a paragraph according to your needs, all within apps native ones like Notes, Mail, Messages, and other third-party platforms.
- More intuitive photos: The Photos app has received a major upgrade with Apple Intelligence. You can now search for images more precisely by simply describing them, and you can also remove unwanted elements from a photo with a single tap using the Search feature. Clear.
- Mail gets smarter:Automatic email categorization is another notable addition. The Mail app can now organize receipts, newsletters, and important emails into categories like “Transactions” and “Promotions,” making it easier to manage email in your inbox.
Supported devices and geographic areas
The initial rollout of Apple Intelligence only affects devices that meet certain hardware and software requirements. Only those with an iPhone 15 Pro , iPhone 16 , iPad with an A17 Pro or M1 chip , and Macs with an M1 or later chip will be able to enjoy these new features. Although Apple has begun this rollout in English, its expansion to other languages is expected to begin in spring 2025.
Unfortunately, not all users in Europe will be able to experience Apple Intelligence immediately. In some European Union countries , access to Apple Intelligence is blocked due to regulations imposed by the Digital Markets Act (DMA). However, Mac users can access the AI as long as they set their device to US English and download the latest macOS Sequoia 15.1 update.
What's coming: New features in December
Although Apple has started with this small rollout, many more features are on the way. In December 2024 , with the release of iOS 18.2 , the possibilities of this artificial intelligence are expected to expand with truly exciting tools. Some of the most anticipated new features include:
- Genmoji: A new tool that allows users to create personalized emojis using natural language descriptions.
- Image Playground: a platform for creating AI-generated images from photos or text.
- visual intelligence: a tool that will integrate the iPhone camera with Apple Intelligence to identify objects, places, plants or animals through photos.
In addition, these tools will be integrated into ChatGPT , giving users a much more interactive way to get answers and create content directly from native Apple software like Notes or Mail.
Privacy and security: Apple's approach
One of Apple's biggest priorities in implementing its artificial intelligence is privacy . While other platforms like ChatGPT or Google collect and analyze large amounts of data in the cloud, Apple has developed a Private Computing Cloud to keep most of the information processing directly on the user's device, without needing to send data to external servers. According to the company, data will only be transferred to the cloud when absolutely necessary, and it will always be encrypted.
Everything indicates that Apple has opted for a gradual but solid expansion of its artificial intelligence system, ensuring that both the average user and the most advanced users can interact with AI without putting their privacy at risk. Although there are still geographical and language limitations, the future of Apple Intelligence points to being one of the most revolutionary tools introduced in its devices.
This is just the beginning, and with each new update, Apple Intelligence promises to gain more features and capabilities, all with the ultimate goal of making our devices more intuitive and useful than ever before.
I'm Alberto Navarro and I'm passionate about everything related to technology, from cutting-edge gadgets to software and video games of all kinds. My interest in digital began with video games and continued in the world of digital marketing. I have been writing about the digital world on different platforms since 2019, sharing the latest news in the sector. I also try to write in an original way so that you can stay up to date while having fun.
I studied Sociology at university and completed my studies with a Master's in Digital Marketing. So if you have any questions, I'll share with you all my experience in the world of digital marketing, technology and video games.