The iOS 18.1 public beta is here, bringing Apple Intelligence (almost) to the masses

Apple releases iOS 18.1 public beta with new AI features for iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, and upcoming iPhone 16.

: Apple has unveiled the public beta of iOS 18.1, which includes generative AI tools. Only iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, and soon-to-be-released iPhone 16 support these features. The beta is more stable than previous developer versions but still requires cautious installation. Key features include call transcription, email prioritization, and photo clean up.

Apple has launched the public beta of iOS 18.1, introducing Apple Intelligence to iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users, while broader availability will come with the iPhone 16 release. The new beta includes generative AI tools such as call transcription, email prioritization, and the initial version of a revamped Siri, which users can try today by setting their devices and Siri to US English.

To install the public beta, users must navigate to Settings on their iPhones, select General, then Software Update, and choose the iOS 18.1 public beta option. Caution is advised as the installation requires backing up data to iCloud or a computer, although it's more stable than previous developer versions.

Some features, like ChatGPT integration and Image Playground, will be rolled out gradually. Apple is also planning other functionalities such as Genmoji and improved personal context understanding for Siri, expected to arrive in the next few months.