Apple (AAPL) released the public beta versions of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 yesterday, making its Apple Intelligence platform available to users enrolled in the beta program. This generative AI-driven system has been in development since June and is now accessible in the U.S., though it remains unavailable in the European Union and China due to regulatory challenges. Users with an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or the newly-launched iPhone 16 models in the U.S. can access these features.

Key updates include writing tools integrated across Apple’s platforms, allowing users to perform AI-assisted tasks like proofreading, summarizing, and rewriting text in different styles like professional and concise. Additionally, Apple Mail gains features like Smart Reply, message prioritization, and summaries.

Siri has undergone significant updates, starting with a redesigned on-screen interface, replacing its old icon with illuminated borders that do not obscure text. The new Siri also features improved speech recognition for users who trip over their words, and it now allows typing in cases where speech is not an option. The assistant has expanded product knowledge, helping users perform tasks like screen recording and resetting devices like AirTags.

In the Photos app, the standout feature is Clean Up, which (like Google’s Magic Eraser) allows users to remove unwanted objects by circling them on-screen. Natural language search and text-prompted Memories creation have also been enhanced.

To enable Apple Intelligence, beta users can navigate to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Join the Apple Intelligence waitlist. Public beta registration is available at beta.apple.com, with additional features slated for release later this year.

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