Apple is taking a cautious approach to the rollout of its new AI service, Apple Intelligence, with full deployment expected to stretch into 2025. Announced last week, Apple Intelligence will be available to developers later this summer, but it will not be included in the initial beta releases of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia.
When the software launches this fall, it will only be a preview and limited to a few devices, available only in American English. Users may need to join a waitlist for certain features. This gradual rollout strategy marks a shift for Apple, which typically introduces new features at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) for fall release. Apple is now prioritizing a staggered introduction to ensure quality and address potential issues.
Benefits of a Gradual Rollout
- Staffing Efficiency: Engineers can focus on specific features before moving to other tasks, preventing bottlenecks.
- Language Training: Starting with American English allows more time to train AI models in other languages.
- Cloud Infrastructure: A gradual rollout helps manage network load as Apple enhances its cloud infrastructure with Mac-grade chips.
- Managing AI Hallucinations: Limiting the initial user base helps contain and fix misinformation before broader adoption.
Initial Features and Future Plans
The first version of Apple Intelligence will include AI-driven notifications, summaries of alerts and messages, webpage and voice memo summaries, and new writing tools. Image generation capabilities and custom AI-created emojis, called Genmoji, are also planned. However, these features will not be in the initial beta version of iOS 18.
Significant upgrades to Siri are expected in 2025, enabling contextual searches, semantic indexing, precise control, and on-screen awareness. The initial version of Siri in iOS 18 will feature a more natural conversational interface, improved user understanding, and enhanced Type to Siri for text queries.
Other Features Rolling Out Later
Several other features will not be ready for the first release of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, visionOS 2, and macOS Sequoia, including:
- Mail App Enhancements: Redesigned to group emails by categories like newsletters and shopping.
- Swift Assist: An AI-powered programming companion for Xcode.
- Home App Features: Support for robot vacuum cleaners and home electricity monitoring.
- Cross-Device File Management: Tool for dragging and dropping files between Apple devices.
- Spatial Video Editing: Ability to edit 3D movies for the Vision Pro in Final Cut Pro.
- Expanded Virtual Display: Panoramic virtual screens for the Vision Pro.
- Live Sports Streams: Viewing up to five simultaneous live sports streams in the Apple TV app on the Vision Pro.
These features are expected in updates later in the year, likely in October and December.
Apple’s deliberate and strategic approach to rolling out new AI features demonstrates its commitment to quality and user experience, ensuring that new technologies work seamlessly and effectively. Fans can anticipate these updates with confidence in their reliability and performance.
