Apple has officially announced that iOS 18 will be available starting September 16, just ahead of the iPhone 16 series launch.
The new iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max will hit the market on September 20, with iOS 18 preinstalled. Apple users with supported devices can expect the update to roll out globally on September 16 without the gradual, multi-week rollout typical of some competitors, like Google.
Apple Intelligence Delayed Until iOS 18.1
Apple Intelligence, the highly anticipated AI suite, will not be included in the initial iOS 18 release. Instead, these AI-driven features will debut with iOS 18.1 in October, alongside updates for iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1.
Initially, Apple Intelligence will only be available in US English, with further language support, including localized English for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK, arriving in December. Apple has also confirmed that in 2025, support for Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish will be rolled out.
What AI Features Are Coming?
The October release of iOS 18.1 will bring a variety of AI-powered features. These include writing tools, the ability to create movies from descriptions in the Memories feature in Photos, and the option to search for specific photos and video moments using natural language.
Other features include Clean Up for removing unwanted elements from photos, audio recording and summarization in the Notes and Phone apps, and summarized notifications.
Additionally, Mail will gain Priority Messages, email summaries, and Smart Reply. Siri will also receive an overhaul, becoming more flexible and capable of responding to typed queries, offering more natural responses, and answering questions about Apple device features and settings.
More AI Features Coming Later in 2024
Later in the year, more advanced AI tools will be introduced, including the Image Playground for generating images and emojis, and Image Wand, which allows users to create images from sketches.
Siri will also gain context-awareness and perform actions across Apple and third-party apps. Notably, ChatGPT integration is also expected in this later wave.
However, Apple Intelligence will only be available on iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and devices with M1 or later chips.
