Apple Intelligence Hands On Review - Is AI Siri any good?
Education
Introduction
I recently got access to the new Apple Intelligence feature on my iPhone 16 Pro and have been diving into its capabilities over the past three days. Today, I'm excited to share my hands-on review of ten key features, some of which are impressive, while others left me wanting more. To give you a frame of reference, I also have my old iPhone 14 Pro here. The Apple Intelligence feature is available on iPhone 15 Pro, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max, and requires access to the iOS 18 public beta.
Getting Started
To enable Apple Intelligence, you need to head over to the Settings app, select General, and navigate to Software Update. Here, you can enable the iOS 18 public beta, but proceed with caution—betas can be glitchy. Once completed, a new section called Apple Intelligence will appear in your settings.
Top Features
1. Enhanced Mail App
One of my favorite updates is the new email summarization feature in the Mail app. The system scans emails and generates concise summaries, which is incredibly useful for quickly assessing important messages. I do wish they’d limit the number of characters in these summaries, as some of them still trail off with ellipses.
2. Writing Tool
The new Writing Tool provides various functionalities across all text-based applications, including Notes and Emails. It allows users to proofread text, rewrite, and summarize in just a few taps, significantly streamlining the writing process without the need for third-party applications.
3. Advanced Photo Search
Inside the Photos app, Apple Intelligence enhances photo searching by scanning embedded text and allowing searches through natural language phrases. You can now find specific photos or moments in videos much more effortlessly.
4. Cleanup Mode in Photos
One of the standout photo editing features is Cleanup Mode, enabling users to brush over unwanted objects in images and remove them seamlessly. This update makes it easier to edit and share photos without the need for additional apps.
5. Voice Memo Transcription
For those who use the Voice Memo app, it will now automatically transcribe your recordings. This feature, combined with the Writing Tool, makes it much easier to access the content of your voice notes.
6. Notification Recap
Apple Intelligence also provides a notification recap, summarizing your notifications in a streamlined format, similar to the email summaries.
7. Improved Siri Functionality
One of the most talked-about features is the upgrade to Siri. Now, Siri has a significantly improved vocal quality, sounding less robotic. However, during my tests, Siri was still limited in its multitasking capabilities. It could handle simple tasks like opening apps, but struggled with more complex queries.
8. Settings Management
Siri can now execute certain settings changes through voice commands. For instance, you can ask Siri to toggle between light and dark modes, which I've found to be beneficial.
9. Limitations in Interaction
Despite Siri's improved voice quality, it still lacks the ability to interact deeply with applications or execute multi-step tasks. Queries often resulted in simple web searches instead of interactive responses.
10. Future Enhancements
As I'm currently using a beta version, many features, especially those involving ChatGPT integration, are still in the works. Apple has promised that future updates would broaden the capabilities of Siri considerably.
Conclusion
Overall, Apple Intelligence demonstrates some significant advances, particularly in writing assistance and photo management. However, Siri still underwhelms in terms of interaction and complex task execution. I look forward to seeing how the full version rolls out, especially with the anticipated ChatGPT integration. For now, the improvements are impressive, but there's room for growth.
Keywords
- Apple Intelligence
- iPhone 16 Pro
- Siri
- Mail app
- Writing Tool
- Photos app
- Voice Memo
- Cleanup Mode
- Notification Recap
FAQ
Q: What is Apple Intelligence?
A: Apple Intelligence combines generative AI models with user data to enhance various applications and improve the Siri experience.
Q: How do I enable Apple Intelligence?
A: You can enable it by going to Settings > General > Software Update and turning on the iOS 18 public beta.
Q: Can Siri perform multi-step commands?
A: Currently, Siri has limitations in executing complex tasks, often defaulting to web searches.
Q: What improvements have been made to the Mail app?
A: The Mail app now features email summarization, allowing for quick reviews of important messages.
Q: Is the Voice Memo app improved?
A: Yes, the Voice Memo app now includes automatic transcription capabilities.
