Report sheds light on several new AI features coming to iOS 18 as Apple aims to catch up with Google and Microsoft

It is no longer a secret that Apple has been hard at work bringing new AI features to its upcoming iOS 18 and MacOS 15 OS updates set for release during the company's annual developer's conference, WWDC, early next month. Several rumors, especially from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, have already predicted some of the new features we may expect from the tech giant.

So far, Apple has taken an extremely cautious approach to integrating AI into its products. The company's focus on user privacy has been a defining factor in this regard, leading to a slower pace of integration compared to competitors such as Google and OpenAI. While this has ensured a high level of trust and security for its users, it has also meant that Apple has been slower to adopt some of the more advanced AI capabilities that have become standard in other platforms. The company recently launched a slew of accessibility-focused AI features, and recent reports shed light on the many other AI features coming to iOS 18 next month.

Mark Gurman, through his latest 'Power On' newsletter has enumerated several new AI features, known internally as 'Project Graymatter', coming to iOS 18. Some of these features will rely on on-device processing, while others that require more compute power will be pushed to the cloud, where they will run on Apple's own M2 Ultra-powered servers. The rumoured features are enlisted as follows: 

• Transcribing voice memos
• Retouching photos using AI
• Enhancing search capabilities with Spotlight
• Improving the Safari browsing experience
• Suggesting replies to emails and texts using AI
• Providing smart recaps to summarise missed notifications, texts, and documents

While these features may appear substantial, they mostly portray Apple catching up with its competitors in the AI space. However, as CEO Tim Cook has emphasized, Apple remains committed to a cautious approach to AI to maintain its strong stance on user privacy. This focus on privacy is expected to be a key theme at the upcoming WWDC keynote, where Apple is most likely to reassure its users that its new AI features will not compromise on their privacy.