Apple’s iOS 18 is about to launch—the new iPhone update will be officially announced on 10 June at the Worldwide Developers Conference. The rumor mill has been building for months, with commentators including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reporting that iOS 18 will be the iPhone maker’s “biggest ever update.”
The launch of iOS 18 is significant because it will see Apple introduce AI to iOS for the first time ever. Here’s what you need to know about the soon-to-launch new iPhone operating system.
iOS 18 Will Include Cool New AI Features
Apple has AI on the brain. The iPhone maker has bought Canadian start up DarwinAI—a company that has developed tech that can make AI systems smaller and faster. “That could be helpful to Apple, which is focused on running AI on devices rather than entirely in the cloud,” Bloomberg writes.
Meanwhile, Apple might pair up with Google to let Google Gemini power a chatbot in iOS 18 and beyond, according to reports. As Gurman puts it: “There are tons of ethical and privacy issues in the generative AI world. By handing that technology off to a third party, Apple can blame them for everything and have far less liability.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook has been vocal about the iPhone maker’s AI aims, with the firm apparently spending $1 billion a year on research and hardware required to run large language models, MacRumors writes.
So far, it seems that iOS 18 will lay the groundwork for AI by using the technology in Apple’s built in apps. However, the major AI features in iOS 18 might be limited to iPhone 16s, which will have more powerful chips.
Siri could also see AI enhancements in iOS 18, with Bloomberg’s Gurman reporting that Apple will boost interaction between Siri and the Messages app so it can auto complete more effectively as well as answer complex questions.
When iOS 18 launches, Apple has not yet confirmed whether generative AI features will be limited to the more secure on-device or be deployed in the cloud. The other option would be a hybrid approach that would see sensitive data processed on-device.
Other iOS 18 Rumors
Apple’s iOS 18 will also include design changes and a more customizable Home Screen. Apple Maps will add support for custom routes, while messaging standard RCS will be added for iPhone users to more easily text those on Google’s Android.
With AI at the forefront of iOS 18, Apple will be carefully considering security and privacy. It’s likely the iPhone maker will also introduce privacy features to allow users to control AI features in iOS 18, so watch this space for more details.
