The delay is attributed to Apple’s need to address potential bugs and ensure that its private cloud computing servers can handle the high volume of traffic expected from millions of users. This cautious approach is crucial as Apple Intelligence is a significant part of the company’s strategy to enhance user experience through AI-driven features.
Apple Intelligence Features
iOS 18.1 will introduce several key features of Apple Intelligence, including:
– Writing Tools: These tools offer proofreading, grammar fixes, and text summarization, as well as the ability to rewrite text with a new tone.
– Smart Reply: This feature suggests context-aware responses in Messages and Mail.
– Siri Enhancements: Although the full overhaul of Siri, which includes more precise app control and personalized responses, is delayed until early 2025 with iOS 18.4, some initial Siri improvements will be available in iOS 18.1.
Accessing Apple Intelligence
Users will need to update their devices to iOS 18.1 and then join a waitlist to access Apple Intelligence. This waitlist is designed to manage the computational load and prevent overwhelming the servers with simultaneous requests. Wait times for access have varied, with some users reporting waits of just a few minutes to several hours.
