Apple’s new suite of artificial intelligence features, branded as Apple Intelligence, became available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users with a software update, according to an Apple announcement. The AI features—introduced with the latest iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1—include tools for improved writing, message summarization, photo editing, and an enhanced Siri, the company said.
“Apple Intelligence introduces a new era for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, delivering brand-new experiences and tools that will transform what our users can accomplish,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. Cook noted that the tools integrate privacy protections that use on-device processing and Apple’s Private Cloud Compute technology, which avoids sharing data to the cloud whenever possible.
A centerpiece of the new features is Writing Tools, which provides rewriting, proofreading, and text summarization options across Apple’s main platforms. The company reports that users can select from different text tones, such as professional or friendly, and adapt messages to meet their needs in apps like Mail, Messages, and Notes. Siri has also received upgrades, with a redesigned look and functionality allowing users to switch seamlessly between voice and text. Siri’s conversational abilities have also been expanded, with the assistant now able to answer more complex questions and track context across multiple interactions.
Apple Intelligence also brings significant enhancements to the Photos app, according to Apple, including a “Clean Up” feature that removes unwanted objects from photos and natural language search to locate images and videos based on descriptions. An upgraded Memories feature lets users build mini-movies by specifying a storyline.
The next set of updates, scheduled for December, is expected to offer expanded language support for localized English versions in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with additional languages rolling out in 2025. Apple added that these new tools will be accessible on compatible models, including the iPhone 16, iPad models with A17 Pro processors or later, and Macs with M1 processors or newer.