Apple has officially launched its long-awaited artificial intelligence (AI) tools for iPhones, but access is currently limited to a select group of users. The new suite, dubbed Apple Intelligence, became available on Monday to owners of eligible devices following an update to iOS 18.1.
To access these AI features, users must join a waitlist after updating their devices. Apple states that once a user is on the waitlist, they should be able to activate the AI tools “within a few hours,” although wait times may vary. The tools include notification summaries, enhanced message-writing assistance, and an upgraded interface for the virtual assistant Siri.
However, the new features are only accessible to users of the latest iPhone models, including all iPhone 16 variants and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Apple Intelligence will also be available on Mac computers and iPad tablets equipped with the company’s latest chips.
Despite the launch, some of Apple’s tools have been released later than similar features from competitors. Google and Samsung have already integrated AI capabilities into their devices, offering users functionalities like real-time conversation translation, automatic note organization, and visual search options. Samsung, for example, has expanded its Galaxy AI features beyond its latest models to include the Galaxy S22 series, with plans to make it available to over 100 million users by 2024.
Apple’s new Clean Up tool, which allows users to remove unwanted objects or people from images, mirrors a similar feature called Magic Eraser recently released by Google.
During the rollout, Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasized the significance of the AI tools, calling the release “a new era” for the company’s products. This announcement comes on the heels of Apple’s recent decision to reward ethical hackers with bounties of up to $1 million for identifying vulnerabilities in its AI software.
The AI features released on Monday are part of a broader set of tools previewed during Apple’s summer developer conference, with additional capabilities—such as generating images and emojis from text prompts—expected to be introduced later this year.
While the excitement surrounding these new features is palpable, Cook noted in an October interview with the Wall Street Journal that Apple is “perfectly fine with not being first” in the AI space, emphasizing that the company takes its time to ensure quality. As the tech landscape continues to evolve, Apple’s strategic approach may help it carve out a distinct identity in the competitive AI market.
