Apple has large plans for iOS 18, based on Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
Within the subscriber-only Q&A piece of his Energy On publication at the moment, Gurman mentioned iOS 18 has the potential to be the “largest” software program replace within the iPhone’s historical past.
“I am informed that the brand new working system is seen throughout the firm as one of many largest iOS updates — if not the largest — within the firm’s historical past,” he wrote.
Gurman mentioned he plans to share extra particulars about particular iOS 18 options and modifications which are deliberate sooner or later, however we already find out about two new options which are more likely to be included within the replace, as outlined beneath.
iOS 18 will likely be launched in September, and the primary beta for builders will come out throughout Apple’s annual builders convention WWDC in June.
RCS Assist
In November 2023, Apple introduced that it might help the cross-platform messaging commonplace RCS within the Messages app on the iPhone beginning “later” in 2024, so it’ll probably be an iOS 18 function based mostly on that timeframe.
RCS help ought to consequence within the following enhancements to the default messaging expertise between iPhones and Android units:
- Greater-resolution images and movies
- Audio messages
- Typing indicators
- Learn receipts
- Wi-Fi messaging between iPhones and Android units
- Improved group chats, together with the flexibility for iPhone customers to go away a dialog that features Android customers
- Improved encryption in comparison with SMS
These trendy options are already out there for iPhone-to-iPhone conversations with blue bubbles, through iMessage, and lots of the options are additionally out there in third-party messaging apps, equivalent to WhatsApp and Telegram. RCS help on the iPhone will lengthen the options to inexperienced bubbles within the Messages app.
Smarter Siri
Gurman expects iOS 18 to function generative AI know-how that “ought to enhance how each Siri and the Messages app can subject questions and auto-complete sentences.” He mentioned Apple has additionally explored generative AI options for different apps throughout its platforms, together with Apple Music, Pages, Keynote, and Xcode.
The Info reported that Apple plans to incorporate giant language fashions into Siri to let customers automate complicated duties, a function that might contain deeper integration with the Shortcuts app. The report mentioned this function is anticipated to be launched in an iPhone software program replace coming in 2024, which might probably be iOS 18.
Generative AI surged in recognition in 2022 when OpenAI launched ChatGPT, a chatbot that may reply to questions and different prompts. Google and Microsoft launched comparable chatbots final yr, as extra firms race into the house. The chatbots are educated on giant language fashions, permitting them to reply like a human.
