Apple has released the first public betas of its latest operating systems—iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. These updates introduce Apple Intelligence, a new suite of tools aimed at enhancing user productivity. The features available in the public betas give the public a taste of what’s to come, after initial developer betas were launched earlier this year.
Apple Intelligence Goes Public
Apple Intelligence, a key component of the latest beta releases, focuses on integrating AI tools directly into the operating system. Available to users with supported devices like the iPhone 15 Pro, M-series iPads, and Macs running on Apple Silicon, this new system allows for advanced interactions with Siri, along with other productivity tools. However, older models won’t have access to Apple Intelligence.
Among the most notable features are Siri enhancements and AI-driven writing tools. Siri now has a more responsive interface and can handle requests with greater flexibility. A new “Type to Siri” feature allows users to input requests through predictive text. The writing tools allow users to quickly proofread or rewrite text in different tones, simplifying lengthy communications. These updates aim to streamline tasks across devices.
What’s Missing in the Beta Release?
While the public beta includes many new tools, some highly anticipated features are missing. The much-awaited Image Playground and Genmoji, which create images from text prompts, aren’t available yet. Siri’s personal context feature, which analyzes user interactions to improve its responses, is also absent from the initial release.
Apple’s public betas give a solid glimpse of the new capabilities coming with Apple Intelligence. Although some features are still in development, the tools available in these betas mark a significant step forward in Apple’s push to integrate artificial intelligence into everyday use.
