iOS 18.3 and Apple Intelligence: What You Need to Know
Apple’s iOS 18.3 update, released in January, brought a series of bug fixes to all iPhone models. However, it’s the iOS 18.1 update from October that really made waves, especially for users with the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, or the iPhone 16 lineup. These devices gained access to exciting new features under the Apple Intelligence umbrella, including AI-generated summaries across various apps. This cheat sheet will guide you through how Apple Intelligence works and how you can use its summarization features to streamline your iPhone experience.
How Apple Intelligence Works
Before diving into the features, there’s a crucial step: enabling Apple Intelligence on your iPhone. To do this, go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri, and tap Get Apple Intelligence. Once activated, your device can provide AI-driven summaries of emails, webpages, messages, and more. These summaries can save you time by distilling complex information into digestible snippets. For example, if you’re reading a lengthy email or preparing for a presentation, Apple Intelligence can quickly highlight the key points. However, keep in mind that some features are exclusive to newer iPhone models, so compatibility may vary.
Summaries in Mail: Cutting Through the Clutter
Emails can be long and overwhelming, especially for those drowning in work-related messages. Apple Intelligence offers a solution by summarizing emails directly within the Mail app. To access this feature, open an email, pull down on the screen to reveal a Summarize button. Tapping this button will generate a concise summary of the email. You can even customize how many lines of the summary you see by going to Settings > Apps > Mail > Preview, where you can choose anywhere from no summary lines to five. But there’s a catch: if you’re using Mail Categories, summaries are only available for emails in your Primary category. If you’re using List View, summaries will appear for all your emails.
One important note: Apple Intelligence isn’t perfect. While it can save time, the AI might occasionally misinterpret information. For instance, the BBC reported that one of its headlines was summarized incorrectly. If you’re concerned about accuracy, you can disable summaries for specific apps or turn off the feature altogether.
Notification Summaries: Concise Alerts on Your Lock Screen
Notifications are a constant part of smartphone life, but sifting through them can be a chore. Apple Intelligence steps in by summarizing notifications on your Lock Screen, a feature that’s enabled by default. This means you’ll see brief, AI-generated summaries of alerts from compatible apps. For example, if you receive multiple messages from a group chat, the summary might say, “John and Sarah discussed plans for the weekend.”
While this feature is handy, it’s not without flaws. If you’re worried about inaccurate summaries, you can easily turn it off. Go to Settings > Notifications > Summarize Notifications, where you can toggle off summaries for specific apps or disable the feature entirely. It’s a good idea to review these settings if you rely on precise information in your notifications.
Safari Webpage Summaries: Quick Insights on the Go
For those who frequently browse the web, Apple Intelligence offers another handy feature: webpage summaries in Safari. When you open a webpage, look to the left of the address bar. If the summarization feature is available, you’ll see a rectangle with a few dashes and sparkles. Tapping this symbol will pull up a menu with a summary of the page’s content. However, this feature isn’t universal—it only works on certain webpages. If the symbol doesn’t have sparkles, it means the feature isn’t available for that particular page.
Writing Tools: Summarizing Your Own Content
In addition to summarizing content from emails, notifications, and webpages, Apple Intelligence also includes Writing Tools. This feature lets you summarize your own text, whether it’s a message you’re drafting or a note you’re editing. To use Writing Tools, highlight the text you want to summarize, then tap Writing Tools in the pop-up menu. From there, select Summary, and the AI will condense your text into key points. This is especially useful for proofreading, editing, or preparing for a presentation. You can copy, replace, or share the summary as needed, making it easier to trim down your writing to the essentials.
Final Thoughts: Enhancing Your iPhone Experience
Apple Intelligence is a powerful tool designed to streamline your iPhone experience. Whether you’re dealing with overflowing emails, cluttered notifications, or lengthy webpages, the AI-powered summaries can save you time and effort. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these features are still evolving, and occasional inaccuracies may occur. By enabling Apple Intelligence and customizing its settings, you can tailor these features to suit your needs. For more details on iOS 18, check out our cheat sheet or explore updates like iOS 18.3.1 and iOS 18.3. With these tools at your fingertips, your iPhone just got a whole lot smarter.
