Apple is working on releasing iOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1. I previously discussed iOS 18.1 features coming to old iPhones that are not eligible for Apple Intelligence (AI). I also recently listed AI features that are not ready and won’t be shipping with iOS 18.1 to eligible iPhones. Now, let’s take a look at AI features that will be coming with iOS 18.1.
Table of Contents
1. Messages
The Messages app will receive AI features.
First, you will now see some smart replies suggested on the keyboard based on the message and context. You can simply tap to select one of the messages and it will be sent. No need to type it out. This should make sending simple messages like coming, on the way, won’t make it, etc. super quick.
Second, if you receive several messages at once, they will now be summarized into a single message and appear on your lock screen. So you don’t have to open all messages individually. Again, this is a time-saving feature.
Finally, Writing Tools (more on that later below) will work in the Messages app. With a few taps, you can compose messages, change tone, proofread, summarize, and more.
2. Mail
Like Messages, the Mail app will also summarize your emails so you don’t have to read them all. You will see a Summary button when you open an email. What I like is the that instead of showing the first 2-3 lines of the email, Mail app will now show a summary of the email instead. So I know the contents even before I open the email. Gives me a gist of the email.

Again like Messages, Mail app will surface emails it deems important and time-sensitive above others. These can be credit card bills, events, appointments, or business meetings, and so on.
You can reply to emails using Smart Replies you don’t have to type them manually. Finally, Mail app will group several emails into one and summarize it for you. Yes, there is quite an overlap in AI features between Mail and Messages apps.
3. Siri
Siri is getting a refreshed look, and some new tricks are up its sleeve.
Pressing the power button to launch Siri will display a glowing animation around the edges of the screen. Looks pretty cool if you ask me.
Type to Siri can now be launched by double-tapping the bottom of the screen. Useful if you are sitting in a quiet environment and can’t talk or speak to Siri.

Siri now understands context better so you can ask follow-up questions to Siri and it will answer correctly. It will remember what you asked before or what happened on that day for example. Siri will also learn from your usage behavior, and analyze your emails, messages, and photos to better understand your queries.
In fact, you can change your question mid-sentence and you will still get an accurate reply. This will be interesting to test because as humans, we do sometimes have second thoughts or change pace mid-sentence.
Apple has trained Siri on its documentation. What does that mean? Siri can now answer questions about features, products, and services that you are using. It can generate how-to guides to explain how to do something on your iPhone. For example, how to enable that new feature or what it does. You will see a new pop-up on the screen with the steps or answers.
4. Writing Tools
Writing Tools is what’s powering the features we discussed in the Mail and Message app above. But it can do so much more than summarize, proofread, and generate quick and short replies for you.

It can rewrite emails, messages, and pretty much any text in any app you want. You can rewrite your message in a different tone, and change the meaning if you want, without impacting the underlying message. You get three tones to choose from: Concise, Friendly, and Professionally.
Other things you can do with Writing Tools are create tables, and bullet lists, extract points, ask questions, and more.
5. Transcriptions and Their Summaries
The Notes app will automatically create a transcription of the recorded audio file. Not only that, it will also create a summary of the transcription so you don’t have to read the whole thing. This should also work outside the Notes app but we will soon find out.
6. Photos App and Clean Up Tool
The default Photos app is getting several new AI (Apple Intelligence) features too.
One of them is the ability to create Memory Movie with just a text command. Yes, Photos app now supports natural language. For example, I can search for ‘my dog Pluto’ in the year 2024. Photos app will collect all the photos and videos of my dog that I clicked in that year and make a movie out of it.

Cleanup Tool is an object remover that will remove objects, people, etc. from your images and recreate the background. It is not so great when we tested it last pitting it against Magic Eraser and Object Eraser. We expect it to work better in the public release that’s due in the week of October.
What I is the ability to search for specific frames or moments from videos saved in the Photos app. Useful if you are a creator and looking to use that moment in a reel.
7. New Focus Modes
There are already quite a few focus modes available to choose from but Apple thinks you need one more. Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode will only display notifications that it thinks are really important or timely in nature. These can be notifications regarding appointments and meetings, OTPs, urgent or emergency messages, and so on.

Weirdly, there is another focus mode called Intelligent Breakthrough and Silencing which does the same thing. Surface timely and important notifications that need your immediate attention while filtering out the rest.
8. Safari Browser
A small feature that you have already heard a thousand times but Safari browser can now summarize any article that you are reading. Yup.
9. Phone Call Summaries
Finally, iPhones can record phone calls although there is a caveat. It will announce that the call is being recorded so it is not discreet. The good news is that all your phone calls will be transcripted, summarized, and automatically saved. The feature is an option so you decide what to do.

Apple Intelligence Waitlist and Eligible Devices
There is a waitlist to join the Apple Intelligence. You can join quite easily. Here is a list of Apple models including iPhones that will receive Apple Intelligence. As noted earlier, iOS 18.1 will be available on 28th October.