Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman anticipates Apple’s iOS 18 as the most substantial iPhone software update. Generative AI might be pivotal, with iPhone 11 and newer models on the supported devices list.
Apple is set to reveal iOS 18 at WWDC 2024 in June. Leaks suggest substantial changes. Despite iOS 17’s impressive features like Contact Posters and NameDrop, it lacked a major overhaul. Apple aims to make iOS 18 a significant iteration, potentially marking a groundbreaking moment in iPhone history.
Insights from Mark Gurman’s subscriber-only Q/A in the Power On newsletter suggest that iOS 18 holds the potential to be the most significant iPhone software update in Apple’s history.
“I’m told that the new operating system is seen within the company as one of the biggest iOS updates — if not the biggest — in the company’s history”
Mark Gurman
Gurman intends to disclose additional details on substantial changes and select iOS 18 features in Apple’s pipeline. Artificial Intelligence will prominently shape iOS 18. While specifics are not yet clear, anticipated features could contribute to making iOS 18 as monumental as Gurman suggests. Let’s explore.
Smarter Siri
According to Gurman, iOS 18 is set to feature generative AI technology, bringing native ChatGPT-like capabilities to iPhones. The emergence of ChatGPT in 2023 marked a significant development in tech, embraced by major players like Microsoft and Google. Gurman envisions this technology enhancing Siri and the Messages app, improving question handling and sentence auto-completion.
Moreover, generative AI won’t be confined to Siri alone. Apple is exploring its application in platforms like Apple Music, Keynote, Pages, and Xcode. These features are anticipated to debut with a software upgrade next year, underlining the significance of iOS 18 in Apple’s innovation strategy.
The Information also previously reported on Apple’s plan to integrate large language models into Siri, enabling deeper integration into the Shortcuts app for automating complex tasks. As the AI wave sweeps through the smartphone industry, the anticipation is high to witness how Apple leverages these advancements to captivate and impress iPhone enthusiasts.
RCS Support
In November 2023, Apple affirmed that the Messages app on iPhones would embrace RCS Messaging, expected in 2024. This indicates that RCS Messaging could be a featured addition in iOS 18. This messaging standard aims to enhance the default messaging experience between iPhone and Android users.In essence, Apple plans to extend modern iMessage features, including:
- Higher-resolution photo/video
- Audio messages
- Read receipts
- Typing indicators
- Enhanced encryption
- Location sharing
- Wi-Fi messaging
- Improved group chats, to green bubbles.
iOS 18 Developer Beta releases post-WWDC 2024, followed by the public version in September with the iPhone 16 series. Models from 2019 onwards, including iPhone 11 and newer, will be iOS 18 compatible.
