First Look at iPadOS 18.1 Beta: Introducing Apple Intelligence
I've just set up the brand new iPadOS 18.1 beta, which offers us our first glimpse of Apple Intelligence. This update brings a revamped Siri interface, a supposedly smarter and more context-aware Siri that can pull information from your messages, calendar, emails, and other digital sources. Excitingly, Apple Intelligence might even direct you to ChatGPT in the future if you're looking for a different type of response from Siri.
Testing Siri's Functionality
Now, let's take a look at how Siri performs in this beta version. It's important to note that the system is still buggy. For example, when I tap and hold the side button, Siri doesn't always launch. Voice activation is also inconsistent; sometimes saying "Hey Siri" triggers the new interface, but other times it doesn't respond at all.
You can also now text or type to Siri by double-tapping at the bottom of the screen. I tried asking Siri about my next flight, but it only provided generic flight information via Google results, without pulling data from my emails or text messages yet. However, I did manage to see the new interface design, which looks quite sleek.
Email Rewriting with Apple AI
One of the coolest new features of Apple AI is its ability to help you rewrite emails. Let's test this by taking a tactless email and making it more professional. Here's an example:
Original Email:
"I need a status update on this project, and you're not giving me what I need. You're kind of a jerk, and you need to give me the solution now."
Obviously, this wouldn't go over well. Using the new writing tools, I can select the text, tap on "Writing Tools," and choose to rewrite it with a more professional tone. Apple AI suggested:
"It is imperative that you take immediate action to rectify the situation and devise a comprehensive solution to restore the project's trajectory."
While a bit formal, it’s a significant improvement. I also tried making it more friendly, and the result was:
"I'd really appreciate it if you could get your team back on track and find a solution to get us moving forward."
This sounds much better for a collaborative work environment.
Siri's Contextual Awareness
Apple AI's enhanced Siri is also more contextually aware in this beta. For example, I asked Siri:
"Show me flights from Austin, Texas, to Boston, Massachusetts."
Siri pulled up web results. I then said:
"Actually, I want to fly to Omaha, Nebraska."
Without needing to repeat the entire request, Siri adjusted and provided results for Omaha instead.
Mail Summarization and Other Features
Other features, like web summarization, appear to be functional on iOS 18.1 but are currently unavailable on my iPad. However, mail summarization works occasionally, allowing me to quickly get a concise version of an email or an entire thread, which is a time-saver.
Final Thoughts and What's Next
As it stands, this first beta of iPadOS 18.1 offers an exciting preview of Apple Intelligence, albeit with some bugs and incomplete features. We can expect rapid updates as the system is refined. I plan to install the 15.1 Sequoia beta on my MacBook Air next to see how it compares to the iPad and iPhone versions.
If you have any questions or want to know more, feel free to ask in the comments below. I'm looking forward to seeing how these operating systems evolve throughout the year and what new capabilities they’ll bring.
