Apple Intelligence on iOS 18.1 is AMAZING! (here's how to use it)

Introduction

With the rollout of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1, Apple has introduced many exciting features on compatible devices, including the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and iPhone 16. In this article, we’ll explore how to set up Apple Intelligence on your iPhone, the new functionalities it brings, and some tips and tricks cultivated from my beta testing experience.

Setting Up Apple Intelligence

To get Apple Intelligence on your iPhone, you need to ensure your device is running iOS 18.1 or later. Here’s how to set it up:

Update Your Device: Navigate to Settings → General → Software Update, and make sure you’re on iOS 18.1 or later.
Language Settings: Go to Settings → Apple Intelligence → Siri, and set your language to "English (United States)".
General Language Preferences: In Settings, head to General → Language & Region and set "English (United States)" as your preferred language. As of now, these settings are mandatory until more languages are supported.
Join the Waitlist: In the Apple Intelligence settings, join the waitlist to download the Apple Intelligence models. After joining the waitlist, you’ll be notified when Apple Intelligence is ready for your device. Then simply tap the button to activate it.

New Features of Apple Intelligence

Notification Summaries

One of the most noticeable features is automatic notification summaries. For instance, in the Messages app, you may see a number next to an app’s icon, indicating how many notifications you’ve received. Tapping this number reveals a summary of those messages, allowing you to quickly glance at important information without diving deep into the app.

How to Disable Notification Summaries:

Go to Settings → Notifications.
Look for Summarize Previews and toggle it off, or manage preferences on a per-app basis.

Writing Tools

Apple Intelligence introduces new writing tools that help with rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text across all applications. Here’s how they work:

Select Text: In any app where you can type, select the text you wish to refine.
Access Toolbar: A new Apple Intelligence icon will appear in the bottom toolbar.
Options Available:
- Proofread: Apple Intelligence suggests corrections and highlights them.
- Rewrite: Generates a revised version of your text.
- Writing Styles: Options such as "Friendly", "Professional", and "Concise" allow you to tailor the tone of your messages.
- Summarize: Allows you to create key points, bullet points, or tables from a block of text.

Enhanced Siri Experience

Siri has received a significant upgrade, becoming more intuitive and expressive. Now, it can maintain context better between questions and follow along even if you change your queries mid-sentence. You can also type to Siri using a new interface that provides real-time suggestions.

More Upgrades in Mail and Messages

Both apps have been upgraded:

Mail: New priority sections for important emails, inline summaries for quick understanding, and Smart Replies using Apple Intelligence are now available.
Messages: Similar features like improved summaries and context-aware replies enhance your experience.

A Smarter Photos App

The Photos app utilizes Apple Intelligence for advanced searches and sorting, allowing for natural language input. You can search for specific objects or create memory movies by typing in descriptions. Another cool feature is the "cleanup" tool, which lets you remove unwanted objects or blur faces within your photos.

Notes and Other Improvements

The Notes app can now transcribe audio and summarize recorded notes or audio calls. Furthermore, the latest Focus Mode called "Reduce Interruptions" intelligently silences less important notifications, ensuring you remain focused.

App Store and Safari Advancements

Searching in the App Store has also benefited from natural language queries for more relevant results. In Safari, there's a new summarize option in the reader view that makes browsing convenient.

Keyword

Apple Intelligence, iOS 18.1, Notification Summaries, Writing Tools, Siri Enhancement, Mail Upgrades, Messages, Photos, Cleanup Feature, Natural Language Search, Focus Mode, App Store, Safari.

FAQ

Q: What devices support Apple Intelligence?
A: Apple Intelligence is available for the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and any iPhone 16 models.

Q: How can I access the writing tools?
A: Select the text in any app, and the Apple Intelligence icon will appear in the toolbar for accessing proofreading, rewriting, and summarization options.

Q: Can I turn off notification summaries?
A: Yes, you can disable notification summaries in Settings → Notifications by toggling the Summarize Previews option.

Q: What is the cleanup feature in Photos?
A: The cleanup feature allows you to remove unwanted objects from images or blur faces effortlessly.

Q: How does Apple Intelligence improve Siri?
A: Siri is more intuitive, maintains context better, and now supports typed queries with real-time suggestions for answers.

Q: What is the purpose of the new Focus Mode?
A: The Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode filters out unimportant notifications based on their context, allowing important alerts to come through.