iOS 18.2 Developer Beta 1 introduces Visual Intelligence exclusively to the iPhone16. Thanks to it, users can scan their environment and have ChatGPT or Google reverse image search provides details about the location or subject. Notably, iOS 18.2 also brings a hidden alternative to this feature, allowing iPhone 15 Pro, iPad, and Mac users to rely on ChatGPT to analyze on-screen images and content.

As spotted by 9to5MacSiri on iOS 18.2 allows users to directly identify content on their screens using ChatGPT. When you ask Siri to rely on ChatGPT to identify a building on your iPhone, for example, it will automatically take a screenshot. Once you approve sending the screenshot to OpenAI’s servers, ChatGPT will describe what it sees. You can then send follow-up questions if you want to know more.

So those without access to Visual Intelligence can now simply take a regular photo on iOS 18.2, open it, and ask ChatGPT to analyze it. This certainly consumes more time than the iPhone 16 feature, but it’s a practical replacement for those with iPhone 15 Pro models or M-powered iPads and Macs.

By mid-2025, Siri will be able to detect on-screen content natively and perform tasks in apps without the help of ChatGPT. In the meantime, users can rely on the previewed workaround to learn about things they encounter in daily life.

The second batch of Apple Intelligence features, including support for ChatGPT, will launch in December as part of iOS 18.2. However, those with spare devices can try the developer’s first beta right away.