Apple Releases First iOS 18 Beta With Active AI Features
Apple pushes out the iOS 18.1 beta that finally activates its new AI tools, allowing users to test photo editing, notification summaries, and a redesigned Siri interface.
Apple releases the iOS 18.1 beta 3 update just ahead of its upcoming iPhone event, giving users their first real hands-on experience with Apple Intelligence. The update activates AI-powered tools like Clean Up in Apple Photos, which works similarly to Google Photos' Magic Eraser to remove unwanted objects from images. Users also gain access to Notification Summaries, a feature that filters out low-priority messages and pings to reduce digital clutter.
The update introduces a sleek new Siri interface that replaces the familiar orb with a full-screen glowing edge light. This revamped Siri shows improved accuracy in distinguishing between actual commands and casual conversation, ignoring users who simply say the assistant's name while talking to themselves. Additionally, users now have the ability to type their requests to Siri by double-tapping the bottom of the screen.
Several other apps receive helpful AI enhancements in this beta release. The Photos app allows users to generate custom memories simply by typing a description of the desired scenes, while the Mail app introduces Priority Messages to surface important emails and Smart Reply for quick, one-handed responses. Interested iPhone owners need to join the iOS beta program and sign up for the Apple Intelligence waitlist in their device settings to try these features.