Amid the rising excitement surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), Google stole the spotlight by launching its flagship Pixel 8 lineup, showcasing advanced AI capabilities. Not long after, Samsung joined the AI race with the introduction of its Galaxy S24 series, incorporating what it dubs as Galaxy AI, featuring an array of noteworthy AI functionalities.
In response to these developments, speculations abound that Apple is poised to follow suit with its rumored iPhone 16 (unofficial name). Although Apple has already integrated AI features into its iPhones, notably in the realms of photo duplication detection and photo enhancement, it appears to be playing catch-up in the eyes of the public, particularly in the field of generative AI.
Building anticipation, the imminent major software update, iOS 18, expected to be unveiled in the coming months, is touted as potentially the most significant in the history of the iPhone, according to insights from Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter. Previous editions of the newsletter hinted at updates that are not merely incremental but rather “relatively groundbreaking,” introducing major new features and design overhauls.
While specifics about iOS 18 remain elusive, Apple traditionally offers a sneak peek into its major software releases, including those for iPhones, at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) held in June.
Recapping iOS 17, Apple introduced an array of AI-powered features, such as voice cloning and an upgraded keyboard with superior autocorrect capabilities. However, the company refrained from unveiling generative AI products akin to Google’s Bard or Open AI’s Chat GPT. Rumors circulating about iOS 18 suggest that Apple is gearing up to address this gap with substantial enhancements.
Anticipated improvements in iOS 18 include:
- Smarter Siri: Gurman’s insights suggest that iOS 18 could significantly elevate Siri’s intelligence using generative AI, enhancing the virtual assistant’s ability to handle questions and auto-complete sentences within the Messages app.
- Improved texting with Android: Apple is reportedly planning to integrate Rich Communication Services (RCS) support, a cross-platform messaging standard, into the iPhone. This move is expected to elevate the messaging experience between iPhone and Android users, offering iMessage-like features accompanied by end-to-end encryption.
Although various rumors have been going round about this anticipated update, detailed specifics about Apple’s plans for iOS 18 remain under wraps, further revelations are expected at the WWDC conference. As more information surfaces, this article will be regularly updated. In the interim, users can explore the functionalities of the latest publicly available mobile software, iOS 17, utilizing the provided cheat sheet.