Apple’s latest update, iOS 18.2, and its iPadOS counterpart, are now available to the public, bringing a suite of anticipated AI enhancements. The extensive release notes detail significant improvements to Apple Intelligence, including ChatGPT integration and a revamped Visual Intelligence system.
The most prominent addition is the integration of ChatGPT with Siri. If Siri cannot answer a query, the request seamlessly transitions to the OpenAI chatbot. This integration also extends to Apple’s Writing Tools, enabling users to generate text and images within various apps. Apple claims these tools are accessible in “almost any app,” providing a system-wide boost to content creation.
Writing tools on Apple iPad mini with A17 Pro.Alt: Apple’s new Writing Tools feature on an iPad mini, demonstrating content creation capabilities.
Siri also receives a redesigned interface, including a new keyboard option and access to Apple’s product guides. This allows Siri to provide step-by-step troubleshooting advice, eliminating the need to search online manually. Furthermore, ChatGPT can now process files and visual media, summarizing PDFs and other documents.
Visual Intelligence and Enhanced Productivity
Another key feature is Visual Intelligence, accessible via the Camera Control button. This allows users to point their camera at objects or text to perform various actions. Visual Intelligence can summarize text, scan codes, retrieve business information, translate languages, copy text, and even access ChatGPT or Google Search results based on visual input.
Visual Intelligence on iPhone.Alt: Using Visual Intelligence on an iPhone to interact with real-world objects and text.
The Mail app benefits from enhanced organization, offering categorized emails, email chain summaries, and Smart Reply for generating quick responses. Notification Summaries condense notifications from a single app, providing a concise overview of activity.
Creative Tools and Image Generation
On the creative front, the Image Playground app empowers users to generate images using text prompts, presets, and artistic combinations. The update also introduces Genmojis, allowing users to create custom emojis using text descriptions, facial recognition from their library, or a character picker.
Three iPhones showing a moose on snowboard with a sweater being created in the Image Playground app.Alt: Creating custom images using the Image Playground app on an iPhone, showcasing the image generation process.
For iPad users with Apple Pencil, the Image Wand system transforms sketches and scribbles into polished images, perfect for notes or presentations. This feature works with existing sketches, images, handwritten notes, or typed text.
Future Developments and Availability
While iOS 18.2 brings numerous advancements, some promised Siri features are yet to be released. These include onscreen content reading and query answering, in-app actions, and integration with other chatbots like Gemini. To use these generative AI features, users must enable Apple Intelligence in Settings to download the necessary models. Compatibility is currently limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models, iPhone 16 series, iPad mini (2024), and iPads with M1 chips or later.
ChatGPT and Siri integration on iPhone.Alt: Demonstration of the ChatGPT and Siri integration on an iPhone, showing how user queries are handled.
iOS 18.2 expands English language support to regional variants in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. Support for additional languages, including Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese, is expected in April 2025.
