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On November 4, Apple released the beta version of iOS 18.2, providing a new look at the artificial intelligence capabilities coming to Apple’s mobile devices in December. Apple also released corresponding beta versions for iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch and Apple Vision and the XCode 16.2 beta 2 development environment.
What does iOS 18 beta 2 add?
Extensive AI features, including ChatGPT integration with Siri, are highlights the beta version of iOS 18.2. The new one Apple Intelligence AI features involve:
- Image playground and Image wall bring generative AI tools for image generation and editing.
- Genmoji allows users to create emojis using natural language prompts or from images of real people.
- Writing tools adds AI rewriting, proofreading and text summarization to various applications.
- ChatGPT integration for Siri. This is to allow the voice assistant to respond to natural language and handle some writing queries.
Apple powers ChatGPT with Siri, making the assistant more flexible – and easier to use. Image: Apple
iOS 18 beta 2 also adds:
- The new camera control focuses the image with one press of a button and takes the photo in one second. This is attractively reminiscent of an analog camera, but time will tell whether it will feel clumsy on the phone.
- Find My now allows users to share the location of a lost item with someone else. A link will be sent that users can access on any device, not just from Apple.
- A new design for the Mail app adds Gmail-like category tabs.
- There are several new settings and UI changes available to explore.
These AI features are in line with the offerings of Apple’s competitors. Still, it will be interesting to see whether Siri loyalty attracts an energetic new audience to the possibility of customization – or even agent — AI voice commands.
However, in the release notes for iOS 18.2Apple notes that requesting ChatGPT to create images in Writing Tools may not work. Users may also need to restart their device after downloading the beta version for messages to appear in the Messages app.
SEE: Britain offers a free AI self-assessment tool for companies to help manage the risks of AI.
Must-see Apple coverage
The upcoming feature may estimate how much time it will take for your phone’s battery to charge
9to5Mac was the first to report that iOS 18.2 includes a handy feature called Battery Intelligence, which provides an estimate of how long it will take to charge your phone’s battery.
I can imagine this as a nice little reduction in range anxiety when I’m at an airport on a business trip or out for a day in the city. 9to5Mac has searched the beta code for an estimate of charging time, so don’t expect the feature to be available in the beta or public release. Plus, with “intelligence” in the name, I wonder if Apple has considered tying AI into this estimate – but that could just be a matter of branding.
Get a first look at the app transaction options now required in the EU
The iOS 18.2 beta will showcase Apple’s upcoming changes to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the EU.
These include options for developers to offer iOS and iPadOS apps in app stores outside of the Apple Store. Developers can create their own app marketplaces and users can choose which app marketplace and contactless transaction app to set as default and which to remove. To address this, iOS 18.2 also added support for exporting user data in Safari and for web browsers to import user data.
Apple is not happy with the changes proverb the EU directives introduce new opportunities for “malware, fraud and scams, illegal and harmful content and other threats to privacy and security.” The EU say Apple’s ‘walled garden’ ecosystem prevents competition from other app stores, payment methods and makers.
How to download iOS 18.2 beta
To participate, register for free Apple Beta Software Program. Apple Intelligence features require iPhone 15 Pro or later to run generative AI on the device.