Apple Intelligence: The AI Features We Like and Expect

Apple Intelligence is set to revolutionize how we interact with our Apple devices, bringing a suite of AI-powered features designed to enhance user experience and streamline daily tasks. While some features have already been rolled out, many more are on the horizon, promising a future of personalized and efficient device interaction.

Introduction to Apple’s AI innovations

Apple introduced Apple Intelligence in late 2024 as a personal intelligence system that combines the power of generative models with personal context. This AI framework is deeply integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, leveraging Apple silicon to understand and create language and images, take action across apps, and draw from personal context to simplify everyday tasks. Apple’s approach combines on-device processing with larger, server-based models running on dedicated Apple silicon servers, setting a new standard for privacy in AI.

Apple Intelligence compatible devices

Apple Intelligence is supported on:

• iPhone 16 series, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
• iPads with M1 chip and later.
• Macs with M1 chip and later.

The newly announced iPhone 16e, priced at $599, also brings Apple Intelligence features to a more affordable model.

Apple Intelligence features we like and use most

• Improved Siri
  Siri has become more intuitive with upgrades like natural language processing and conversational context retention. For instance, if you say, “Remind me to call Sarah when I get home,” Siri not only sets a location-based reminder but also suggests contact details automatically. No more endless back-and-forths with Siri—just a quick, smart reminder.
  
  
• Image Generation
  Tools like Genmoji and Image Wand bring creativity to our fingertips. Imagine needing a unique emoji for your group chat—say, “a dog wearing sunglasses on a surfboard.” With Genmoji, you can generate it instantly, adding a fun and personal touch to your conversations.
  
• Practical AI Tools
  Writing Tools and text summarization are lifesavers for productivity. Picture this: you receive a lengthy email from your manager outlining multiple tasks. Instead of reading through it all, you ask Siri to summarize it. In seconds, you get the key points neatly laid out, helping you focus on what matters most.
  
• Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode
  This underrated feature uses Apple Intelligence to prioritize notifications intelligently. For example, if you’re working on an important project, Reduce Interruptions ensures only critical alerts—like a call from your boss or an urgent family message—break through while silencing less important notifications until later. It’s perfect for staying focused without missing what truly matters.
  
  
  
• ChatGPT Integration
  Siri’s integration with ChatGPT allows it to handle complex queries effortlessly. If you’re researching a topic like climate change for a presentation, you can ask Siri for arguments on both sides of the debate and get comprehensive insights without leaving your device.
  
• Intelligent Photos App
  Searching for specific memories has never been easier. If you’re looking for “photos of my dog at the park last fall,” the app quickly retrieves relevant images using descriptive search capabilities. Plus, the Clean Up tool lets you remove unwanted objects from photos with just a tap.

Unreleased Apple Intelligence features we expect

• On-screen Awareness
  We hope this upcoming feature will enable Siri to understand and interact with content displayed on our screens. Imagine reading a recipe and saying, “Add these ingredients to my shopping list.” Siri will do it without us needing to type anything out.
• Cross-app Functionality with In-app Actions
  That would be great if Siri’s enhanced cross-app functionality will allow it to seamlessly perform actions within and across multiple apps. For example, if you say, “Send the email I drafted to April and Lilly,” and Siri will identify the specific email and the app it’s in to complete the task. After enhancing a photo with a command like “Make this photo pop,” you’ll be able to instruct Siri to “Drop it in a specific note in the Notes app,” streamlining your workflow without manual intervention.
• Personal Context Awareness
  Siri would be able to utilize information from various apps to offer tailored assistance. If we mention a friend’s birthday gift idea in a text months ago, Siri could remind us about it as their birthday approaches.
• More Language Compatibility
  Apple Intelligence would be set to support more languages beyond English variants, including Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, and others—making these features accessible to users worldwide.

Potential delays, future updates, and expert opinions

It’s important to note that some AI-powered Siri features may experience delays due to engineering challenges or software bugs. The highly anticipated Siri AI upgrade was initially expected in iOS 18.4 in April 2025 but has now been postponed to iOS 18.5 in May 2025. This delay could affect Apple’s overall software roadmap, potentially pushing some features intended for iOS 19 into 2026.

Despite these challenges, experts remain optimistic about Apple’s approach to AI. Tim Cook emphasizes that Apple Intelligence will “transform what users can accomplish.” Security experts express confidence in Apple’s new Private Cloud Compute system, which promises robust data protection while using Apple Intelligence.

As Apple continues refining its AI capabilities, we can look forward to an increasingly personalized and efficient user experience—one that prioritizes our privacy while enhancing how we use our devices every day.