Apple has rolled out iOS 18.1, which gives users the first set of Apple Intelligence features with a smarter Siri and several AI updates.

Although iOS 18.1 is available for everyone, Apple Intelligence as a feature will only work on iPhone 15 Pro models and the latest iPhone 16 models.

Once the update is installed, the often clunky Siri is supposed to become more conversational, versatile and colorful, with a bright light that will rotate around the iPhone’s screen when responding to requests.

However, whether Siri is even smarter or not remains debatable. As someone who’s been testing the iOS 18.1 release candidate for the past week, the biggest difference I’m noticing is the new look of Siri. The Type to Siri feature is also useful when you are in public places and don’t want everyone to know what your queries are.

Other AI features include writing and summarizing tools that only work on native Apple apps like iMessage, Mail, Notes, and more. The Cleanup tool in the Photos app is also present, which allows users to remove unwanted objects or people from the photo. But, compared to similar features in Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy devices, it still has a long way to go and is not that refined.

According to Apple, more features will be available in December, with updates planned in the coming months, starting with Genmoji, which allows users to create custom emojis simply by typing a description or using a photo. The new Image Playground feature will enable quick and fun image creation, while Image Wand will transform sketches into polished images and fill in empty spaces by analyzing the surrounding context.

How to enable Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence is only available to iPhone 16 users or users with iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max. You can activate it by going to Settings > Apple Intelligence and Siri > Join the Apple Intelligence Waitlist. It is only accessible when the device and Siri language are set to American English.

In December, Apple Intelligence will be available in English localizations for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

A software update in April will add more languages, including Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese and others, with further expansions planned throughout the year.

Read also: Apple unveils new iMac with M4 chip and Apple Intelligence