Apple Intelligence Is Now Live in Public Beta: Features and How to Enable It

Apple has taken a big leap forward with Apple Intelligence, launching the iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 public betas on Thursday. This generative AI-powered platform, which has been the talk of the tech world since its initial reveal in June, is now available for users enrolled in Apple’s public beta program.

For now, Apple Intelligence supports U.S. English only and remains unavailable in the European Union and China due to regulatory challenges. However, users in the U.S. can try it out on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the newly released iPhone 16 series.

TechCrunch has already tested the developer beta version of iOS 18.1 during their review of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Some standout features include cross-system writing tools, the Clean Up function for Photos, and a major overhaul of Siri’s interface.

New AI-Enhanced Writing Tools and Siri Redesign

Apple’s Writing Tools introduce generative AI capabilities familiar to users of ChatGPT. The system can proofread, summarize, and even rewrite text in various tones, from professional to friendly. Additionally, Mail has received a Smart Reply feature, along with improved message prioritization and summarization tools.

Siri’s redesign brings a refreshed interface, replacing the traditional colorful icon with illuminated borders that won’t block text on the screen. Siri has also improved its speech recognition, and for moments when users can’t speak to the assistant, there’s now the option to type commands.

Expanded Siri Features and Photos Enhancements

A major new Siri feature is product knowledge, allowing users to ask how to perform tasks like screen recording or resetting an AirTag. While features like conversational context and Visual Intelligence are still in development, these initial upgrades mark significant progress.

In the Photos app, the new Clean Up tool is Apple’s answer to Google’s Magic Eraser. With a simple finger gesture, users can remove objects from photos, which are replaced with a generated background. Additionally, the search function has been upgraded to support more natural language queries, and users can now create Memories by typing prompts.

How to Enable Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1

To access Apple Intelligence, users must manually activate the feature by going to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Join the Apple Intelligence Waitlist. Joining the public beta is easy—simply visit beta.apple.com and follow the steps.

As Apple continues to refine its AI platform, additional features are expected to roll out in the coming months.