Apple releases first version of Apple Intelligence for developers

Apple has released the first version of its Apple Intelligence amid reports the company had postponed the launch of the new AI features, until the release of its iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 in September.

However, the iPhone maker on Monday made available its first version of Apple Intelligence, a cocktail of AI features with improved Siri to enhance user experience on its devices.

Apple avails AI features to developers only

According to a CNBC report, Apple Intelligence was released in the developer beta of the iOS18.1 and only available to registered Apple developers at a premium price of $99 a year.

Apple Intelligence is a suite of AI features expected to enhance its voice assistant Siri, and do tasks like generating emails and images, summarization tools for web pages and voice notes, writing aids, and improved notifications.

The new product feature is also available in similar releases for iPad and Mac. As for Siri, the new improvements include ability to understand commands even if the speaker “stumbles over their words.”

With the latest upgrades, Siri can now troubleshoot some user questions about Apple products.

To access the features, users are supposed to register for a waitlist to access the new programming.

Here’s what the waitlist for Apple Intelligence looks like on iOS 18.1 Beta 1 pic.twitter.com/lHlvx2PsCg

— Brandon Butch (@BrandonButch) July 29, 2024

Apple delays some features

According to CNBC, Apple Intelligence is an integral part of the tech giant’s big AI moves, as it shrugs off competition with a host of new features to boost user experience for its devices.

Investors are also reportedly upbeat the integration of AI with the firm’s operating systems will drive a spate of upgrades of its devices in the coming years.

This is most likely the case since the AI system will only work on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and newer.

Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan said:

“We expect this iPhone cycle to remain strong for longer as AI sets [software and possibly hardware] improve in the 2025 iPhone.]”

The release of Apple Intelligence comes a day after the tech giant was reportedly delaying the rollout of its AI features announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference last month to allow more time for bug fixes, according to a Bloomberg report.

The report cited Apple’s concerns over the stability of the AI features, coupled with the need to ensure a smooth consumer release.

However, despite the Monday release of the Apple Intelligence, there are some features still missing from the AI preview although Apple has promised to roll them out over the next year.

These include emoji generation, image generation, automated photo clean-up, OpenAI’s ChatGPT integration, and other Siri updates such as its ability to use users’ personal information.