Apple has finally launched Apple Intelligence into beta, and on Monday, the company released iOS 18.1 beta for developers to test out the all-new features, powered by Apple Intelligence technology.
Alongside iOS 18.1, Apple also released the same updates for iPad 18.1 beta and macOS 18.1 beta, and after the release, Apple CEO Tim Cook took to X (formerly Twitter), saying that Apple Intelligence will bring a number of new possibilities to users
“It’s exciting to see our developers start building with it,” he added. Apple talked about Apple Intelligence during WWDC 2024, the keynote session during the event indicated that Apple Intelligence features will come with the launch of the iPhone 16 series in September
However, reports now say that it will be delayed until October. This means that the iPhone 16 series will receive another update, iOS 18.1 to bring Apple Intelligence to smartphones
Apple iOS 18.1 Beta Release: What Do You Need to Install?
Unlike the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max requirements, users will have to sign up for a waitlist within Apple's Settings app. After getting the beta upgrade, make sure to make a fresh backup of your iPhone or iPad, in case you want or need to downgrade again
To install iOS 18.1 beta, you also need to upgrade your device to iOS 18 beta. To get iOS 18.1 beta, go to Settings and tap on General option, you will find Software Update option here, by tapping on this option, turn on Beta Updates
After installing the iOS 18.1 beta, open Settings and tap the new Apple Intelligence & Siri button (just below Accessibility). It may take a while before the Apple Intelligence beta features are enabled on your device, so keep in mind that this is your first look at some of the first features in the Apple Intelligence beta
iOS 18.1 beta: Feature list Apple has not released the full list of Apple Intelligence features yet. The new beta update carries only a few of these features. The rest are expected to come in the later beta phase. Here is the list of features that users can experience in the iOS 18.1 beta
- In the new writing tools, users can rewrite, review, and summarize text almost everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps
- Mail will also have some new features of its own. The app will have a Smart Reply option that provides suggestions for quick responses
- This update also sees a major overhaul of SIri, Apple’s personal assistant. The new design of glowing lights that wrap around the edges of the device will be noticeable when Siri is active at this point. It also has the ability to switch between text and voice for interactions with Siri. However, Apple will improve Siri further in future releases
- Minimize Interruptions is a new feature that focuses only on notifications that may need immediate attention, such as a text message about an early pick-up from daycare
Since iOS 18.1 beta is the first release of Apple Intelligence, it doesn’t have many features. Image creation, Genmoji, ChatGPT integration, and priority notifications are missing in this release