Apple is set to unveil iOS 18 officially at its Annual WWDC 2024 event in June. Despite this, significant leaks and rumors are already surfacing. While last year’s iOS 17 introduced notable features like Contact Posters and NameDrop, many users felt it lacked a substantial overhaul. Indeed, it has been quite some time since Apple delivered an iOS iteration that truly felt massive. However, there are indications that Apple intends to make iOS 18 a groundbreaking milestone in iPhone history.
Insights into Apple’s plans for iOS 18 emerged from the subscriber-only Q&A section of the Power On newsletter, where Mark Gurman stated, “iOS 18 has the potential to be the most significant iPhone software update in the history of Apple.”
“According to reports, the upcoming operating system is regarded as one of the most substantial iOS updates, if not the largest, in the company’s history.” – Mark Gurman
Gurman intends to divulge further details on the substantial changes and some of the features in Apple’s pipeline for iOS 18. While specifics about Apple’s plans remain elusive, it’s clear that Artificial Intelligence will play a pivotal role in shaping iOS 18’s foundation. Although the exact details are not yet known, we have some insights into the features that could potentially make iOS 18 as monumental as Gurman suggests. Let’s explore.
Smarter Siri
According to Gurman, iOS 18 will integrate generative AI technology to introduce native ChatGPT-like capabilities to iPhones. The release of ChatGPT by OpenAI in 2023 marked a significant advancement in tech, garnering widespread attention and anticipation for its future applications. Major players in the tech industry, including Microsoft and Google, have already introduced their AI chatbots.
Gurman believes that generative “AI will enhance both Siri and the Messages app by improving question fielding and auto-completing sentences“. Additionally, Apple has explored incorporating generative AI features into other platforms such as Apple Music, Keynote, Pages, and Xcode. These features are expected to debut with the software upgrade slated for next year, iOS 18.
Previous reports from The Information also indicated Apple’s plans to integrate large language models into Siri, allowing for deeper integration into the Shortcuts app. This integration would enable users to automate complex tasks more efficiently. With the recent surge of AI technology in the smartphone industry, enthusiasts eagerly anticipate how Apple will innovate and captivate its iPhone fanbase.
RCS Support
In November 2023, Apple officially announced that the Messages app on iPhones would support RCS Messaging, set to roll out later in 2024. As such, RCS Messaging is expected to be a feature of iOS 18. The goal of this messaging standard is to improve the default messaging experience for both iPhone and Android users. Essentially, Apple plans to extend modern iMessage features to the traditional green bubbles. Some of these features include:
- Higher-resolution photos & video
- Audio messages
- Read receipts
- Typing indicators
- Better encryption
- Location sharing
- Messaging using Wi-Fi
- Improved group chats
Following WWDC 2024 in June, the initial iOS 18 Developer Beta will be released, with the refined public version expected to launch sometime in September alongside the iPhone 16 series. Consistent with Apple’s approach to software support for its iPhones, all models released in 2019 and later are expected to receive iOS 18 support. Therefore, iPhone 11 and newer models are anticipated to be included in the list of iOS 18 supported devices.
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