Apple Intelligence Debuts with iOS 18.1 Beta: New Call Recording and Transcribing Features
Apple Confirms Apple Intelligence Arrival with iOS 18.1 Beta: Features Include Call Recording and Transcribing
Yesterday’s report suggested that Apple’s new Apple Intelligence feature would not debut with the iPhone 16 lineup in September but would instead be available through a software update in October. Today, Apple has implicitly confirmed this timeline by releasing the first developer beta of iOS 18.1, which introduces the Apple Intelligence suite.
To clarify, iOS 18.1 is distinct from iOS 18, the latter of which is set to be released in September. iOS 18.1 will be the initial major update following the release of iOS 18 and is anticipated to launch in October.
With the introduction of iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 betas, Apple has begun rolling out its Apple Intelligence features. To access these features, developers need to sign up for a waitlist in the Settings app. Currently, the wait time is only a few hours, but this is specific to the developer beta. The public release might involve a longer wait time, expected to extend into October.
Key features in the Apple Intelligence suite include:
- Writing Tools: Enhancements for text composition and editing in Messages, Notes, Mail, Pages, and other apps.
- Siri’s New Look: A redesigned Siri interface with a glowing border and a new option to interact by typing.
- Transcript Summaries: Summaries for transcripts and other content.
- Mail Enhancements: New categories and smart replies in Mail.
- Smart Replies in Messages: Improved response suggestions.
A notable addition is the ability to record and transcribe phone calls. During a call, users can activate the recording feature by tapping the record button in the top left corner. All participants will receive an audible notification that the call is being recorded. The recorded audio is then saved to the Notes app, where users can re-listen to it, view a full transcript, and receive a summary of the conversation.
A public beta of iOS 18.1 is expected to be available in the coming weeks.
