Apple’s “Intelligence”: Siri, Now With 10% More Smarts (and a Whole Lotta Promises)
So, Apple’s decided to throw a hat in the AI ring, calling it “Apple Intelligence.” They’re promising us the moon: Siri that can actually understand what you want, cartoon dogs eating pancakes on demand, and emails that magically sort themselves. But hold your horses, folks, because iOS 18.1 is just a little teaser. It’s like Apple’s giving us a sip of soda and saying, “The rest of the bottle? Oh, that’s coming… eventually.”
Who does this affect? Well, anyone clinging to their iPhone, hoping it’ll one day stop misunderstanding their requests for pizza. Apple’s clearly feeling the heat from competitors like Google who’ve gone all-in on AI. They’re trying to show they’re not just the “shiny gadget” company anymore.
What are we actually getting in iOS 18.1? Think of it as AI training wheels. Some basic writing tools, the ability to summarize text (finally!), and smarter replies in messages. Siri gets a fancy new glow-up, encompassing your whole screen like it suddenly got a promotion. But the real juicy stuff, like “Image Playground” and “Genmoji”? Yeah, that’s on the back burner.
Let’s talk about the “not yet” features, the ones Apple’s dangling like a carrot on a stick. First up: “Image Playground.” Imagine telling your phone, “Draw me a cartoon of my boss juggling flaming chainsaws,” and it actually does it. That’s the promise, anyway. It’ll be a separate app, but also integrated into Messages and Notes.
Then there’s “Genmoji,” which is like “Image Playground” but for emojis. Tired of the same old smiley faces? Genmoji will let you design your own, from a dancing pickle to a unicorn riding a bicycle. Of course, your friends will need iOS 18 to see your masterpieces, otherwise they’ll just get a blank stare from their phones.
And what about Siri? They’re promising “onscreen awareness,” meaning Siri will finally understand what you’re pointing at on your screen. “Personal context” will supposedly let Siri learn your habits and preferences, like your best friend isn’t actually your ex-wife you keep texting by accident. And the biggest claim: Siri will be able to control other apps, both Apple’s and third-party ones. Imagine telling Siri to “Move that spreadsheet to my Dropbox and then order me a burrito.” That’s the dream.
Oh, and they’re even integrating ChatGPT, that AI chatbot everyone’s obsessed with. But again, not in iOS 18.1. Apple’s taking their sweet time.
So, when can we expect all this futuristic stuff? iOS 18.2 (end of 2024) might have “Image Playground,” “Genmoji,” and the ChatGPT integration. iOS 18.3 (early 2025) could have some Siri upgrades. And the big kahuna, iOS 18.4 (March 2025), is supposed to have all the fancy Siri features and support for more languages besides English.
The bottom line is this: Apple’s finally jumping on the AI bandwagon, but they’re doing it cautiously, in stages. iOS 18.1 is a taste test, and the full meal is still cooking. Whether it’ll be worth the wait? Only time will tell. But you know, at least Siri’s got a new glow. That’s gotta count for something, right?
From the sales floor to the critic's corner, I'm a former Apple Sales Specialist who's not afraid to tell it like it is. Get my honest takes on the iPhone, Mac, and everything Apple. | Los Angeles, California.