Apple Intelligence is rolling out as an unfinished beta and will gradually introduce more advanced features in the coming years. Although many were eagerly awaiting its integration with ChatGPT, Apple has delayed the release of these features. For now, Siri receives a slight boost in intelligence, with added tools for managing photos and transcribing audio recordings, but Apple Intelligence is still very much a work in progress.

Key Features of Apple Intelligence You’ll Want to Try

The AI tools embedded in Apple Intelligence are designed to assist with everyday tasks, often working in the background or popping up where users need them most. Here are some of the standout features that are worth checking out as soon as they become available:

1. Transcribe Audio Recordings

One of the most exciting tools in the Apple Intelligence suite is the automatic transcription feature in the Voice Memos app. If you’ve ever recorded a meeting, lecture, or interview and wished for an automatic text version of the audio, this tool is a game changer. After recording, the app will instantly generate a transcript of the conversation.

During testing, Apple Intelligence performed remarkably well, detecting different speakers and splitting the transcript into paragraphs based on who was speaking. Though it occasionally stumbled over mumbled words, the overall accuracy was high. This tool is bound to be a favorite for professionals, students, and journalists who regularly deal with audio recordings.

2. Ask Siri for Help with Apple Products

Apple’s virtual assistant, Siri, has received a subtle yet significant AI upgrade. One of the major improvements is its ability to offer more comprehensive help for navigating Apple devices. With Apple Intelligence, Siri now acts as a smarter guide to Apple's software ecosystem.

For example, if you’ve ever struggled to remember how to run two apps side-by-side on your iPad, you can now ask Siri for assistance, and it will walk you through the process. The integration of AI also allows Siri to provide quick answers for basic troubleshooting and more effective navigation within Apple’s settings. However, Siri is not yet smart enough to offer help with using Apple Intelligence’s tools, which will be addressed in future updates.

3. Speed Through Writing and Editing

Apple Intelligence features a writing assistant designed to help users compose and edit text more efficiently. The “proofread” function highlights errors and suggests corrections, while the automatic response tool generates canned email replies, saving time on repetitive communications.

For instance, when replying to a sales inquiry, you could use the AI to generate a polite but firm response in seconds, such as, “Thank you for your interest, but I’m not in the market at this time.” These features are useful for anyone who needs to respond quickly to messages or ensure their writing is free from typos and punctuation errors.

4. Remove Unwanted Distractions from Photos

Apple Intelligence brings a highly anticipated feature to the Photos app tool for automatically removing unwanted distractions from images. Whether it’s an unwanted bystander in a family portrait or an object that spoils an otherwise perfect shot, this feature promises to make photo editing easier for casual users.

During testing, however, this “Clean Up” tool didn’t always deliver polished results. While it successfully removed unwanted elements from some photos, it occasionally left behind pixelated artifacts, creating an awkward and artificial look. This is an area where Apple’s AI still needs improvement, but it remains a feature to watch as future updates could make it more reliable.

Apple Intelligence Features You Can Skip (For Now)

While Apple Intelligence introduces several promising tools, not all of them are ready for prime time. Two features in particular fall short of expectations in this beta release:

1. Summarizing Text

AI-powered text summarization is one of the headline features of Apple Intelligence, allowing users to get the gist of lengthy articles, emails, or documents with the press of a button. However, in practice, the tool’s performance has been inconsistent. For instance, when summarizing an article about the risks of consuming certain types of tuna, Apple Intelligence recommended one of the species with the highest levels of mercury. This is an example of AI “hallucination,” where the technology fabricates information due to a misinterpretation of the text.

2. Editing Photos

As mentioned earlier, the “Clean Up” feature has its limitations. While it holds promise, its current functionality leaves room for improvement, especially when dealing with complex images involving multiple objects or people. The feature is intriguing but far from being a reason to upgrade your device.

What Lies Ahead for Apple Intelligence?

The introduction of Apple Intelligence marks a pivotal moment in Apple’s evolution toward AI-driven services. While the current beta version may not be a reason to rush out and buy a new iPhone, it sets the stage for future innovations that could eventually become indispensable.

Apple has confirmed that many of the most advanced features, including integration with ChatGPT, will roll out throughout 2025. As these tools mature and become more refined, Apple Intelligence could transform how we interact with our devices, making them more intuitive, efficient, and personalized.

For now, Apple Intelligence will work on the iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro, and select iPads and Macs released in the last four years. Whether it’s helping you write emails, transcribe conversations, or clean up your photos, Apple Intelligence is poised to reshape the way we use technology, even if it’s not quite perfect yet.

Source: Apple’s A.I. Is Landing Soon on iPhones. Here’s What It’s Like.