Apple’s AI features arrive with iOS 18.1: The latest iOS update introduces a suite of AI tools, but users need to take an extra step to access them.
- Apple has released iOS 18.1, which includes new AI features under the “Apple Intelligence” umbrella.
- Users must join a waitlist and explicitly activate Apple Intelligence in their settings to access these features.
- The waitlist process is quick, typically taking only minutes for users to gain access.
How to activate Apple Intelligence: Users need to navigate through specific settings to enable the new AI features on their devices.
- Go to Settings > Apple Intelligence and then Siri > Join the Apple Intelligence Waitlist.
- Once approved, users will receive a notification that Apple Intelligence is ready for activation.
- Return to the Settings tab and select “Turn on Apple Intelligence” where the waitlist prompt previously appeared.
Beta status and precautions: Apple is taking a cautious approach with the rollout of its AI features, acknowledging potential limitations and inaccuracies.
- The new AI features are still in beta, which explains the waitlist system.
- Apple warns users that outputs may be inaccurate, unexpected, or even offensive.
- The company advises users to verify important information for accuracy.
Available AI features: Several AI-powered tools are now accessible to users who activate Apple Intelligence.
- Writing Tools: Likely to assist with text composition and editing.
- Notification Summaries: Presumably offering concise overviews of user notifications.
- Audio recording and summarization in Notes: Allowing users to transcribe and summarize calls and other audio content.
- Revamped Siri: An updated version of Apple’s virtual assistant, potentially with enhanced capabilities.
Missing features: Some anticipated AI tools announced at WWDC are not yet available in this release.
- Genmoji: A feature likely related to AI-generated emojis or avatars.
- Image Playground: Possibly an AI-powered image editing or creation tool.
- ChatGPT Integration: Direct integration of OpenAI’s chatbot technology.
- Personal Context: A feature that would allow AI to use personalized information for more comprehensive assistance.
Implications for user experience: The introduction of these AI features marks a significant shift in how users interact with their Apple devices.
- The gradual rollout and beta status indicate Apple’s careful approach to integrating AI into its ecosystem.
- Users will need to actively opt-in to experience these new features, allowing for a controlled adoption rate.
- The absence of some announced features suggests that Apple is fine-tuning its AI offerings before a full-scale release.
Looking ahead: Apple’s cautious approach to AI integration sets the stage for future developments and user adoption.
- As these features move out of beta, we can expect refinements and possibly wider availability without the need for a waitlist.
- The eventual release of missing features like Personal Context could significantly enhance the AI’s ability to provide personalized assistance.
- Apple’s entry into the AI space with these features signals a new era of competition among tech giants in the realm of mobile AI capabilities.
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...