Key Takeaways
- Apple has made the first developer beta of iOS 18.2 accessible.
- Along with other improvements, it incorporates visual intelligence and ChatGPT into Siri.
- Users of Macs and iPads are simultaneously receiving similar betas.
Users may now experience ChatGPT’s integration with Siri and Visual Intelligence for the first time thanks to Apple’s release of the first developer beta of iOS 18.2.
The release allows you to ask ChatGPT for assistance if Siri is unable to fulfill a request. It comes with matching iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2 betas. This involves producing text and graphics.
This also gives you a first look at the Visual Intelligence feature that was introduced at the “Glowtime” event in September if you own an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro. In some respects, it’s a direct response to Google Lens: by aiming the camera at pertinent things, you may obtain information about the environment around you, like a restaurant’s menu or a Google search for a product you wish to purchase.
In the iOS 18.2 developer beta, image production is also quite important. Now, you can create and share photos using Image Playground in response to prompts, including characters who look like people you know. While Image Wand transforms a crude doodle in Notes on an iPad into a more realistic drawing, Genmoji generates unique emoji based on descriptions.
Additional enhancements include localization for English speakers outside of the US, such as those in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK, and more advanced writing capabilities (such as the ability to specify the precise modification you wish to make). Apple has already committed to providing intelligence in these nations by the end of December.
Installing the iOS 18.2 test version and its equivalents is only recommended if you are comfortable with the risks associated with early pre-release code, just like with any other developer beta. If you want something more dependable, you should wait for the public beta; if you run mission-critical apps, you should wait for the final release, which is probably around December.
Some Apple Intelligence enhancements, like a fully context-aware Siri, will still need to wait until 2025. To utilize any of the new AI features, you’ll also need at least an Apple Silicon Mac, an iPhone 15 Pro, or a decently contemporary iPad (like the iPad mini 7).
Nevertheless, it is evident that the rumors were accurate. Most, but not all, of Apple’s generative AI technology will be ready by the end of the year as part of a phased release. If you were hoping for complete Pixel-style AI integration, that could be disappointing. However, it also implies that Apple is not hurrying to launch and running the risk of errors or unfavorable reviews.
