Apple just opened up its Apple Intelligence suite to public beta testers across iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. The initial drop brings system-wide Writing Tools, a new glowing interface for Siri, and Clean Up in Photos. It is currently limited to U.S. English and newer hardware like the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 series.
Apple just rolled out iOS 18 to the public, but its biggest headline feature, Apple Intelligence, is noticeably missing from day one. Instead, users get a massive Control Center overhaul, freeform home screen icon placement, RCS messaging, and real-time Voice Memos transcription. Why it matters: Even without the new AI smarts, it is one of the most flexible iPhone updates in years.
Apple just rolled out its Clean Up tool in the latest iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS 15.1 developer betas. Powered by Apple Intelligence, it lets you tap, circle, or brush away photobombers and clutter while automatically filling in backgrounds and clearing shadows. For now, it is limited to devices set to English and the U.S. region.
Apple just announced its next big hardware event for September 9th with the tagline "It's Glowtime." While the iPhone 16 lineup brings design tweaks and new capture buttons, the real spotlight is on Apple Intelligence, which is expected to expand across the entire flagship lineup instead of staying Pro-exclusive.
Apple is reportedly delaying Apple Intelligence past the initial September release of iOS 18, pushing public rollout to an October software update. That means the first batch of iPhone 16 buyers won't get AI out of the box, as Apple buys more time to squash bugs. Developers are expected to get early access via an iOS 18.1 beta this week.
Apple just signed the White House's voluntary commitment to AI safety, joining 15 other tech giants including OpenAI and Google. Under the pledge, Apple agrees to conduct pre-release red-team testing, treat model weights confidentially, and develop content watermarking systems. With Apple Intelligence rolling out to 2 billion devices soon, the move is a clear effort to appease regulators early.
Microsoft just gave up its observer seat on OpenAI's board, and Apple has dropped its own plans to join. The sudden exit comes amid mounting antitrust scrutiny from US and EU regulators over Big Tech's grip on generative AI. Both companies are keeping their technology partnerships intact, just without the paper trail of boardroom oversight.
Apple is set to join OpenAI's board as an observer, tapping App Store chief Phil Schiller for the role as part of their partnership deal. While Schiller won't get voting power, he can attend meetings alongside rival Microsoft, which holds a similar seat. That could make for some awkward boardroom moments whenever sensitive deals come up.
Apple is gearing up to announce a deal bringing Google Gemini to its devices as soon as this fall, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The move adds another heavyweight alongside ChatGPT, with Anthropic also in the mix. Why it matters: bringing in third-party chatbots buys Apple time to build Apple Intelligence while taking a cut of partner subscription sign-ups.
Meta has reportedly discussed integrating its generative AI models into Apple Intelligence alongside OpenAI's ChatGPT. Apple has also held talks with Google, Anthropic, and Perplexity, potentially creating a hub where AI companies sell premium subscriptions directly to iPhone users. Negotiations are still ongoing and could fall through.
Apple just confirmed it won't roll out Apple Intelligence, iPhone Mirroring, or SharePlay screen sharing to EU users this year due to regulatory uncertainties from the Digital Markets Act. The company claims the DMA's strict interoperability rules could force compromises on user privacy and data security. Apple is working with the European Commission to find a workaround.
Apple Intelligence will automatically add code to image metadata to flag AI alterations—even for simple fixes like removing a background distraction. Software chief Craig Federighi confirmed the policy, noting Apple has no plans to generate photorealistic people or places. Why it matters: As slop and deepfakes multiply, tech giants are leaning hard on provenance markers.
Apple and OpenAI just sealed an AI partnership, but neither side is handing over any cash. Apple is essentially paying OpenAI with front-row exposure to hundreds of millions of users in exchange for ChatGPT access. While it is a pure bartering deal for now, Apple plans to bring in rivals like Google and could eventually shift toward a revenue-sharing model.
