Apple has announced the release of the latest developer beta versions of its operating systems, including iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2. This rollout comes just a week before the public launch of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, although Apple has not yet confirmed specific release dates.
The upcoming updates will introduce Apple Intelligence features to the public for the first time in a non-beta format. These features include integrated writing tools, image cleanup capabilities, article summaries, and a revamped typing input for Siri.
Developers enrolled in the beta program will have access to additional Apple Intelligence features that were unveiled during Apple's WWDC event in June. These include innovative tools like Genmoji, Image Playground, Visual Intelligence, Image Wand, and integration with ChatGPT.
New users of Apple Intelligence will need to opt-in through their device settings and grant permission for ChatGPT functionality. This integration allows Siri to answer questions using OpenAI's platform and provides a compositional tool within Writing Tools.
When Siri encounters a question it cannot answer immediately, it will prompt users for permission to access OpenAI's capabilities. Common use cases for this feature include recipe suggestions and trip planning.
The Compose feature will be available across all apps that utilize Writing Tools, allowing users to enter prompts that generate text similar to the standalone ChatGPT platform. Additionally, these apps will also have access to ChatGPT’s image-generation capabilities.
In conjunction with this, Apple’s own image generation tool, Image Playground, is integrated into various applications such as Messages, Pages, Keynote, and Freeform. Users can generate images by providing prompts that include concepts or descriptions and can even use personal photos as inspiration.
This update marks a significant step in enhancing user experience across Apple’s ecosystem by integrating advanced AI functionalities into everyday tasks.