Just a short while ago, I hopped on the waitlist for the Apple Intelligence Beta by downloading the iOS 18.1 Developer Beta on my trusty iPhone 15 Pro Max. Within no time, a notification popped up informing me that Apple Intelligence was now available on my device and prompting me to re-register my voice for Siri (“Hey Siri,” “Siri”). As I called out to Siri, the screen came to life with a gentle wave-like motion, creating an immersive experience.
The most noticeable change is in Siri’s tone of voice. It’s now more conversational and engaging. When I inquired about tomorrow’s weather, Siri greeted me with a friendly “Good Afternoon” and spoke with subtle nuances that made it feel less robotic and more human-like. However, when I asked about the original iPhone’s release date, I was directed to three websites for information, similar to the pre-update version of Siri.
With the Apple Intelligence Beta comes a new look for Siri, featuring a glowing screen that adds to the overall aesthetic. A simple tap on the “Search Google” button below responses brings up Google Search results promptly, providing quick answers like the original iPhone release date (June 29th, 2007). Additionally, holding down the power button reveals a virtual QWERTY keyboard for typing queries to Siri. The keyboard displays vibrant colors and instructs users to “Type to Siri,” emphasizing ease of communication with the assistant.
Siri has also been enhanced to recognize mispronunciations and offer assistance with troubleshooting Apple devices. Although some highly anticipated improvements are slated for release in the final version of Apple Intelligence, current features include advanced image searching in Photos app, AI-driven summaries in Mail and Messages, transcriptions in voicemail messages, and AI-powered writing tools for crafting emails or messages. While encountering an error message when attempting to summarize an email in the native Mail app (“Unable to summarize one message”), keep an eye out for any upcoming Apple Intelligence updates as they roll out.
Stay tuned as I continue exploring new features introduced by Apple Intelligence and share my insights on this innovative technology upgrade!