Apple has taken another step into the world of artificial intelligence by releasing a beta version of its highly anticipated Apple Intelligence features, including its integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The features are expected to be part of Apple’s broader strategy to enhance its devices with AI-driven tools, sparking investor hopes that the innovations will drive a new wave of iPhone upgrades. However, these tools will only be available on newer models.
Apple Intelligence and AI Rollout
Apple initially announced its AI ambitions this past summer, and now the company is gradually rolling out these features to users. While Apple Intelligence has been accessible to developers and early adopters, the official public release is set for next week with the launch of iOS 18.1. On Wednesday, the company released a beta version of iOS 18.2 for software developers, showcasing the next batch of AI capabilities. Developer betas usually go through several weeks of testing before a wider public release.
The latest Apple Intelligence beta includes a range of exciting tools, such as:
- Text rewriting capabilities: Users can describe how they want a chunk of text to be rewritten.
- Genmoji: Apple’s AI-powered image generator for creating new emojis.
- Image Playground: A tool for generating AI-created images.
- Image Wand: A feature that allows users to remove objects or distractions from photos.
- ChatGPT integration: Apple’s collaboration with OpenAI for more complex questions and tasks.
One highly anticipated feature—allowing Siri to perform actions within apps—is still missing from this update but is expected to be introduced soon.
ChatGPT Integration: A Game-Changer for Siri
Apple’s integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT is one of the most anticipated features of the Apple Intelligence suite. Announced in June, this partnership allows Siri to redirect certain questions to ChatGPT, providing users with more advanced answers. If Siri detects that a question might be better suited for ChatGPT, it will ask the user for permission to send the query. Users don’t need an OpenAI account to access this feature.
At Apple’s developer conference, the company demonstrated how this integration works. In addition to answering complex questions, ChatGPT will also be integrated into text fields, enabling users to generate text responses within various apps. Another application of this technology is Visual Intelligence, where the iPhone’s camera can identify text or objects in real-time and even translate signs.
The partnership with OpenAI marks a significant milestone for both companies. OpenAI, now valued at $157 billion following a recent funding round, secured a coup with this collaboration. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was seen on Apple’s campus when the partnership was announced, solidifying the cooperation between the two tech giants.
Financial Details of the Partnership Remain Unclear
While the Apple-OpenAI partnership is a major development, neither company has commented publicly on the financial terms of the deal. Apple was not involved in OpenAI’s latest fundraising round, and there has been speculation that Apple might integrate other AI models from companies like Google in the future.
Apple Intelligence features are already available in limited testing and will be officially released to the public as part of iOS 18.1 next week. The initial batch of features includes text rewriting, a redesigned Siri, and notification summaries that condense multiple push notifications into a few brief sentences.
Apple’s slow rollout of its AI features, including the much-anticipated ChatGPT integration, marks a significant step forward in its bid to lead the next wave of technological advancements. As iOS 18.1 and 18.2 bring AI-driven tools to users, Apple is positioning itself to capitalize on the AI boom, enhancing the functionality of its devices and potentially driving new demand for iPhone upgrades. The full impact of these developments will become clearer as more features are released and users begin to experience the next evolution of Apple Intelligence.