Apple releases iOS 18.1 developer beta with the first ‘Apple Intelligence’ iPhone features

Apple releases iOS 18.1 beta featuring new AI enhancements, including updated Siri, smart Mail features, and Photos search.

: Apple has launched the developer betas for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, introducing their first AI features. Key updates include a redesigned Siri, smart Mail functionalities, and natural language search in Photos. To access these features, users must join a waitlist after installing the updates on compatible Apple devices. The public release of iOS 18 is expected alongside the iPhone 16 this fall.

Apple has rolled out developer betas for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, which include the first set of AI features under the 'Apple Intelligence' branding. Significant improvements involve Siri, which now supports context retention across multiple requests, smart reply in Mail, email summaries, and natural language search capabilities in the Photos app.

To install these updates, users need an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, or an Apple Silicon-based iPad or Mac. Following installation, users must join a waitlist from the Settings menu and wait for access to the new features, as shown in a screenshot by @iSWUpdates. Additionally, a second public beta for iOS 18 was released, featuring RCS support on more carriers, new CarPlay wallpapers, and dark mode widget functionality in light mode.

These AI features were initially introduced during Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June, with a public iOS 18 beta released on July 15th. Apple’s unusual move to start beta testing the 18.1 update before the public launch of iOS 18 aims to squash bugs and refine features ahead of the iPhone 16’s expected release this fall.

Apple IntelligenceiOS 18Mobile AI