iOS 18: All the Rumors and Upcoming Features We Know So Far

Anticipation is building as the tech world looks ahead to Apple’s annual developers conference, WWDC, slated for next June. All eyes are on the much-anticipated iOS 18, set to be announced during this event and then released to eager users with compatible iPhones come September.

The grapevine is buzzing with excitement, and according to Bloomberg’s tech guru, Mark Gurman, iOS 18 is poised to be a “relatively groundbreaking” update. Gurman tantalizingly hints at “major new features and designs,” leaving enthusiasts on the edge of their seats. Although specifics are scarce at this point, Apple’s senior management has been internally whispering about operating systems that are nothing short of “ambitious and compelling.”

Smarter Siri

One area of potential innovation is Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant. Gurman spills the beans on a new addition to iOS 18—generative AI technology. This groundbreaking feature is expected to elevate Siri’s capabilities, enhancing its ability to field questions and auto-complete sentences within the Messages app. It’s not just Siri getting the AI treatment; Apple is exploring the integration of generative AI across various platforms, with a spotlight on apps like Apple Music, Pages, Keynote, and Xcode.

But that’s not all. The plot thickens as The Information chimes in with an intriguing detail about iOS 18. Brace yourself for the integration of large language models into Siri, a move that could revolutionize how users interact with their devices. This advancement aims to empower users to automate complex tasks, promising a seamless experience. The catch? This feature is expected to intertwine deeply with the Shortcuts app, offering a new level of sophistication to task automation. If the rumors hold true, this game-changing addition might just redefine the way we navigate and interact with our iPhones.

The excitement is palpable as we await WWDC and the unveiling of iOS 18. With promises of groundbreaking features, generative AI, and enhanced Siri capabilities, Apple enthusiasts are in for a treat come next June. Stay tuned for more updates as the rumor mill continues to churn, building anticipation for the next chapter in iOS evolution.

Improved Texting With Android Users

Generative AI experienced a significant surge in popularity last year with the introduction of ChatGPT by OpenAI—an innovative chatbot designed to respond intelligently to a variety of queries. Following suit, tech giants Google and Microsoft also joined the race, unveiling their own chatbots earlier this year. These virtual conversational agents are powered by extensive language models, enabling them to mimic human-like responses.

In the ever-expanding landscape of artificial intelligence, Apple has publicly expressed its keen interest in generative AI. Job listings on the company’s website have alluded to ongoing research and development in this domain, indicating a strategic focus on advancing this cutting-edge technology.

Apple CEO Tim Cook shed light on the company’s journey into generative AI during an interview with Forbes in September. He emphasized the years of meticulous research invested in the field, underlining Apple’s commitment to approaching this technology with a profound sense of responsibility. Acknowledging the potential pitfalls, Cook mentioned being fully aware of the challenges related to bias, hallucination, and ethical concerns.

Shifting gears to more recent developments, Apple unveiled plans to integrate the cross-platform messaging standard RCS (Rich Communication Services) into its Messages app on the iPhone. Set to debut in the upcoming iOS 18, this move is expected to bring a host of enhancements to the messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices.

The anticipated benefits of RCS support include higher-resolution photos and videos, audio messages, typing indicators, read receipts, and the convenience of Wi-Fi messaging between iPhones and Android devices. Group chats, a staple of modern communication, will see improvements as iPhone users gain the ability to gracefully exit conversations that include Android users. The enhanced encryption offered by RCS stands out as a noteworthy upgrade over the conventional SMS standard.

While these features are already part of iPhone-to-iPhone conversations through iMessage, the integration of RCS support in the built-in Messages app will extend these capabilities to the realm of green bubbles—representing Android users. This promises a significantly improved messaging experience, bridging the gap between iPhone and Android users and setting the stage for a new era of cross-platform communication.