Apple released the first part of Apple Intelligence in October… iOS 18.1. Here, users received a handful of updates, like a revamped Siri UI, writing tools, and a cleanup tool in Photos. But now Apple is expanding its features by offering iOS 18.2. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company plans to release these features on December 2. While Apple has only confirmed the release month, reports point to the first week of December. The iOS 18.2 update will introduce advanced features such as ChatGPT integration into Siri, Genmoji, Image Playground, and Visual Intelligence. It will also bring a handful of upgrades outside of Apple Intelligence.

Additionally, Gurman also said that the next major update after iOS 18.2 will be the rollout of iOS 18.4 in April, which will include a number of improvements, including a Siri upgrade that will allow Assistant to access user data and answer questions based on the information on their screens. But first, let’s look at the updates coming with iOS 18.2.

iOS 18.2 will be released in December

iOS 18.2 is expected to introduce a number of important updates. Please note that the current version of Apple Intelligence features is only released in US English. Therefore, it is only accessible to users who can switch to American English. But then, when will it arrive in India? Read here.

Genmoji: It is similar to traditional emojis but offers more flexibility. Unlike standard emojis limited by Unicode, Genmoji lets you create almost any emoji you can imagine. Apple has developed a specialized API for Genmoji, so they display seamlessly in any app that supports rich text on Apple devices. You can design a Genmoji depicting the look you want, and you even have the option to make Genmoji look like the people in your photo library.

ChatGPT integration: Apple is partnering with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT to iPhone, iPad and Mac. This collaboration allows Siri to handle complex tasks by consulting ChatGPT, such as creating images or writing text from scratch. With the Writing Tools feature, ChatGPT can generate and illustrate unique content, enhancing Siri’s capabilities beyond its current functions.

For example, you can open a long PDF and ask Siri for a summary on a specific topic; Siri would forward the request to ChatGPT to produce a detailed summary. Apple aims to position Siri as a bridge to AI tools, streamlining resources to provide answers without the need to switch apps.

Visual intelligence: With an iPhone 16 series, you can use Visual intelligencea feature that provides information about your environment. For example, if you point the camera at a restaurant, you will receive information such as its hours and reviews.

Visual Intelligence also lets you read text aloud, identify phone numbers and addresses to add to contacts, copy text, and get summaries. You can search on Google to find out where to buy the specific items you see and, by pointing the camera at an item, access more details via ChatGPT. Apple plans to add even more features to this feature over time.

Updated writing tools: Apple is improving the Writing Tools feature to allow more flexible editing. In iOS 18.1, writing tools can only adjust the tone to a friendly, professional, or simplified tone. However, with iOS 18.2, users will be able to specify custom tone and content changes, like adding more action words or turning an email into a poem.

Image wand: In the Notes app, you can use Image Wand to create images that complement the content of your note. By circling an empty space, Image Wand generates an image based on your text. You can also draw something with your finger, circle it with the tool, and get an associated image. On iPad, drawing with Apple Pencil allows Image Wand to produce a suitable image based on your drawing.

Image Playground: Image Playground is a brand new app designed to help you create images from your ideas. Just like ChatGPT, you can generate images by entering a prompt, with suggested categories such as themes, locations, and costumes to spark inspiration. The application focuses on stylized content, so images will not be realistic and may be generated in Animation or Illustration styles.

You can also incorporate portraits of friends and family by selecting images directly from your Photos app. Although Image Playground works as a standalone app, it can also be integrated with apps like Notes and Messages, and even added to third-party apps.