Apple Intelligence on iPhone: 8 AI features worth trying
Apple Intelligence has become one of the features drawing considerable attention among iPhone users in recent years. Far from being merely an add-on, Apple has brought this artificial intelligence (AI) technology to various apps and functions on the iPhone to help users complete their everyday activities.
In simple terms, Apple Intelligence is Apple’s AI system that is integrated with a number of features on the device. Users can harness it to help with writing, summarising information, creating images and emoji, and even finding information through the camera.
However, it is worth noting that not all iPhones support Apple Intelligence. Its availability also depends on the operating system version, language and user region. The feature is only available on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models and newer iPhones.
- Helping you write and refine text
One particularly useful feature is Writing Tools.
This feature can help users correct their writing, create summaries, and rewrite text in a different style or tone. Writing Tools can be used wherever users type, including a number of compatible third-party apps and websites.
For example, when composing an email or writing a message that is too long, users can use Apple Intelligence to tidy up or condense the text.
This feature can be a shortcut for users who frequently write messages, emails, notes or documents on their iPhone.
- Summarising notifications and messages
Have a pile of notifications stacking up? Apple Intelligence can help display the gist of multiple notifications so users do not have to read each one individually.
In the Messages app, Apple Intelligence can also create conversation summaries and provide Smart Replies to help users respond to messages more quickly.
This way, users can grasp the main content of a conversation without having to open every incoming message.
- Creating Genmoji and images
Apple Intelligence also brings creative features such as Genmoji and Image Playground.
Genmoji allows users to create emoji based on a given description, so users are no longer limited to the standard emoji options available on the keyboard.
Meanwhile, Image Playground can be used to create images based on particular ideas or descriptions.
This feature could appeal to users who want to create simple visual content directly from their iPhone.
- Managing photos
For users who enjoy photography, Apple Intelligence is also present in the Photos app.
One of its capabilities is helping remove distracting objects from a photo through the Clean Up feature.
For instance, if there is a particular object in the background of a photo that makes it look untidy, users can select that portion for deletion and the system will attempt to fill in the empty area so it blends seamlessly with the photo.
In addition, Apple Intelligence makes photo searching easier. Users can use everyday language to search for particular photos or videos based on their content or the moments captured within them.
- Finding information through the camera
Apple Intelligence also makes the iPhone’s camera smarter through Visual Intelligence.
This feature can help users understand objects and information around them. For example, users can identify plants or animals, translate text, look up information about a place, or turn information on a poster into a calendar event.
Users can also ask questions about visible objects and, in certain circumstances, use services such as ChatGPT to obtain additional information.
- Summarising voice recordings and calls
Apple Intelligence can also help when users have lengthy audio recordings.
In the Notes app, for instance, users can record audio such as meetings or study sessions and then use Apple Intelligence to create a transcript summary.
On devices and in regions that support the relevant feature, Apple Intelligence can also produce summaries of recorded phone calls and FaceTime audio.
This feature can help users grasp the key points without having to listen to the recording from start to finish.
- A smarter Siri
Apple has also integrated Apple Intelligence into Siri.
Siri has gained the ability to understand requests with better context, including when users make mistakes while speaking or change their request mid-conversation.
Apple Intelligence also enables Siri to work alongside a number of other capabilities, including Writing Tools and ChatGPT integration in certain experiences.
However, Apple is still developing a number of more personalised Siri capabilities, and some new features may depend on future software updates.
- Privacy remains a priority
One aspect Apple emphasises is privacy in the use of Apple Intelligence.
Apple explains that much of Apple Intelligence’s processing is carried out directly on the device. For requests requiring greater computing power, the system can use Private Cloud Compute.
According to Apple, data sent for such processing is not stored and is only used to fulfil the user’s request.
Nevertheless, Apple also reminds users that results generated by Apple Intelligence may be inaccurate. Therefore, important information should still be verified before use.
Ultimately, Apple Intelligence makes the iPhone not just a tool for communication and entertainment, but also a device that can assist with various tasks — from writing and summarising information to editing photos, creating images, understanding objects through the camera, and supporting everyday activities.
However, these AI capabilities should still be regarded as assistive tools. For important information, users should continue to verify the results provided rather than assuming every AI answer is definitively correct.