Apple rolls out iOS 18.1 public beta with Apple Intelligence features

iOS 18.1 Public Beta 1 update for iPhone was rolled out by Apple on Thursday. The update is said to be a notable introduction as it brings features from Apple Intelligence — the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) suite — to the iPhone. Features such as writing tools, object removal tool Clean Up, and web page summarization are now available on supported iPhone models. Along with iOS 18.1 Public Beta 1, Apple also released updates for its other devices, such as the iPad and Mac.

iOS 18.1 Public Beta 1 Update Features

According to Apple, the iOS 18.1 Public Beta 1 update adds new features powered by Apple Intelligence. It introduces Writing Tools, an AI-powered feature with options for proofreading documents with spelling and grammar checks. Users can also ask it to rewrite text in three different tones: Concise, Friendly, and Professional. It can also summarize text, create lists and tables, or highlight key points of text.

iOS 18.1 Public Beta 1 update for iPhone is out now

Meanwhile, the Clean Up tool uses Apple’s AI model to remove unwanted objects, backgrounds, or text from images. While the smarter Siri that Apple showed off at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 in June is still not available, the update introduces a new user interface (UI) that lights up the edges of the screen as you talk to the voice assistant.

In Safari, iPhone users with iOS 18.1 Public Beta 1 can now view summaries of webpages when reading view is enabled.

While not part of Apple Intelligence, call recording is also coming to iPhone, which can be activated by tapping a new icon that appears in the upper-left corner of the screen. All recipients will be notified via an audible message once call recording begins. The recording, along with a transcription, will be saved to the Notes app.

Along with the iOS 18.1 Public Beta 1 update, Apple also released updates for iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 with Apple Intelligence.