Apple's new generative AI features are set to roll out in phases, with some launching in October 2024, others arriving later this year, and additional updates planned for the first half of 2025. This staggered release, combined with regional and language restrictions, makes it essential for those interested in Apple's AI tools to know the timeline.
Starting in October with iOS 18.1, Apple will release various AI-powered writing tools, allowing users to rewrite, proofread, and summarize text in apps like Mail, Notes, and Pages. In the Photos app, a "Clean Up" tool will enable users to erase parts of a photo and search their photo collections by describing details such as location or people in the image. The Notes and Phone apps will be able to record, transcribe, and summarize audio, while the Mail app will offer AI-driven features like smart replies and email summaries. Siri will also improve modestly, such as better handling interrupted speech and maintaining context across multiple requests. These features will initially be available in American English and labelled as "beta" for further refinement.
By the end of 2024, Apple plans to expand these tools to other English-speaking regions, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. The company will also introduce "Image Playground," a text-to-image generator for cartoonish art, and "Genmoji," allowing users to create custom emojis based on text descriptions. Additionally, Apple will integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its apps, enabling users to ask more complex questions and receive help with AI-assisted text composition.
Broader Siri enhancements are expected in the first half of 2025, such as the ability to pull information from both Apple and third-party apps and use "App Intents" to execute complex tasks within apps. New language support, including Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish, is also expected.
However, Apple's AI rollout will vary by region. The company has stated that due to regulatory concerns surrounding the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), AI features will not be available on iPhones and iPads in the EU. However, they will be available on Macs. Apple is eager to launch these features in China but faces additional regulatory hurdles.
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