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Apple Intelligence, introduced at WWDC 2024, is Apple’s ambitious leap into generative AI, seamlessly integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and visionOS. Designed to enhance productivity, creativity, and communication while prioritizing user privacy, it offers a suite of tools that leverage on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute. As of July 2025, Apple Intelligence has rolled out across multiple updates, with features like Writing Tools, Visual Intelligence, and a revamped Siri transforming how users interact with their iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro. This article provides a comprehensive review of Apple Intelligence’s tools and features, practical guidance on how to use them.

Full List of Apple Intelligence Tools and Features

Apple Intelligence is a collection of AI-powered tools integrated across Apple’s ecosystem. Below is a detailed rundown of the features available as of July 2025, covering iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and visionOS 2.4, with additional features announced at WWDC 2025.

1. Writing Tools

  • Description: A systemwide suite of AI-powered tools for text editing, available in apps like Messages, Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps. Features include:
    • Proofread: Checks grammar, spelling, and sentence structure, offering suggestions with explanations.
    • Rewrite: Rewords text in different tones (Friendly, Professional, Concise) or custom styles via “Describe Your Change.”
    • Summarize: Condenses text into paragraphs, bullet points, tables, or lists.
    • Compose: Integrates ChatGPT to generate original text from prompts.
  • User Experience: Writing Tools are intuitive and accessible, especially for quick edits or summaries. However, the Rewrite feature can produce bland outputs that lack personal voice, and the Professional tone sometimes feels overly formal.
  • Availability: iOS 18.1+, iPadOS 18.1+, macOS Sequoia 15.1+.

2. Clean Up (Photos App)

  • Description: Removes unwanted objects from photos by identifying and replacing background elements, maintaining the image’s authenticity.
  • User Experience: Clean Up is a standout for casual photo editing, effectively removing distractions like trash or passersby. It works best with uniform backgrounds but may leave noticeable artifacts in complex scenes.
  • Availability: iOS 18.1+, iPadOS 18.1+, macOS Sequoia 15.1+.

3. Natural Language Search (Photos App)

  • Description: Allows users to search for photos and videos using descriptive text, pinpointing specific moments in video clips.
  • User Experience: This feature is highly practical, quickly locating content based on context, like “sunset at the beach” or “dog playing fetch.” It’s a significant improvement over traditional keyword searches.
  • Availability: iOS 18.1+, iPadOS 18.1+, macOS Sequoia 15.1+.

4. Memory Movies (Photos App)

  • Description: Creates custom slideshows with narrative arcs by selecting photos and videos based on user descriptions, paired with music.
  • User Experience: Memory Movies impress with their ability to craft cohesive stories from vague prompts, like “family vacation 2024.” The results are polished but lack deep customization options.
  • Availability: iOS 18.1+, iPadOS 18.1+, macOS Sequoia 15.1+.

5. Notification Summaries

  • Description: Summarizes notifications and groups them for quick scanning, with Priority Notifications elevating urgent messages (e.g., flight reminders) to the top.
  • User Experience: Notification Summaries reduce clutter, but occasional inaccuracies, like misinterpreting a delayed package as delivered, can frustrate users. Priority Notifications are reliable for time-sensitive alerts.
  • Availability: iOS 18.1+, iPadOS 18.1+, macOS Sequoia 15.1+.

6. Reduce Interruptions (Focus Mode)

  • Description: A Focus mode that silences non-essential notifications while prioritizing important ones.
  • User Experience: This mode helps minimize distractions, but its effectiveness depends on the AI’s ability to correctly identify “important” notifications.
  • Availability: iOS 18.1+, iPadOS 18.1+, macOS Sequoia 15.1+.

7. Siri Enhancements

  • Description: Siri has been revamped with a glowing edge-screen design, richer language understanding, text input (double-tap the home bar or Command key), and integration with ChatGPT for complex queries (e.g., photo or document analysis). It also offers enhanced product knowledge.
  • User Experience: Siri feels more natural and responsive, but it still struggles with multi-modal requests and isn’t a full chatbot like ChatGPT. The ChatGPT integration is seamless for specific tasks, though it requires user consent for data sharing.
  • Availability: iOS 18.1+, iPadOS 18.1+, macOS Sequoia 15.1+. ChatGPT integration and on-screen awareness are in iOS 18.2+, iPadOS 18.2+, macOS 15.2+.

8. Image Playground

  • Description: A standalone app for generating cartoon-like images from text prompts, supporting Animation, Illustration, and Sketch styles. It integrates with Messages, Keynote, and social media.
  • User Experience: Image Playground is fun for playful visuals but not suited for professional or photorealistic edits. Its preset styles limit creativity compared to competitors.
  • Availability: iOS 18.2+, iPadOS 18.2+, macOS Sequoia 15.2+.

9. Genmoji

  • Description: Creates custom emojis from text descriptions or photos of people, usable in Messages, Tapbacks, or as stickers in third-party apps.
  • User Experience: Genmoji is a hit for personalizing chats, especially when mimicking friends or family. However, the output is stylized and not always precise.
  • Availability: iOS 18.2+, iPadOS 18.2+, macOS Sequoia 15.2+.

10. Image Wand (Notes App)

  • Description: Transforms rough sketches or notes into polished illustrations using Apple Pencil on iPad or text prompts on iPhone/Mac.
  • User Experience: Ideal for students or creatives, Image Wand adds a professional touch to sketches but requires an Apple Pencil for full functionality on iPad.
  • Availability: iOS 18.2+, iPadOS 18.2+, macOS Sequoia 15.2+.

11. Visual Intelligence

  • Description: Exclusive to iPhone 16 series, this feature uses the Camera Control button to identify objects, plants, animals, or text in the environment, with future integration with Google and ChatGPT.
  • User Experience: Similar to Google Lens, Visual Intelligence is convenient for quick identification (e.g., dog breeds or translated signs). Its exclusivity to iPhone 16 limits accessibility.
  • Availability: iOS 18.2+ (iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max).

12. Live Translation

  • Description: Provides real-time translation in Messages, FaceTime (subtitles), and Phone apps, supporting multiple languages.
  • User Experience: Live Translation is a game-changer for multilingual communication, offering seamless translations during calls or chats.
  • Availability: iOS 18.4+, iPadOS 18.4+, macOS Sequoia 15.4+.

13. Audio and Call Transcriptions (Notes App)

  • Description: Transcribes voice recordings and phone calls, with summaries for quick review.
  • User Experience: Useful for students or professionals, but requires manual transcription initiation, which can feel cumbersome. Notifications alert all call participants for privacy.
  • Availability: iOS 18.1+, iPadOS 18.1+, macOS Sequoia 15.1+.

14. Apple Wallet Enhancements

  • Description: Summarizes order tracking details from merchant emails, consolidating progress notifications.
  • User Experience: Streamlines tracking but relies on accurate email parsing, which may falter with non-standard formats.
  • Availability: iOS 18.4+, iPadOS 18.4+, macOS Sequoia 15.4+.

15. Messages Enhancements

  • Description: Includes AI-suggested polls, custom backgrounds via Image Playground, and notification summaries.
  • User Experience: Polls are practical for group planning, and backgrounds add flair, but summaries occasionally miss nuanced context.
  • Availability: iOS 18.4+, iPadOS 18.4+, macOS Sequoia 15.4+.

16. Workout Buddy (Apple Watch)

  • Description: A virtual assistant in watchOS 26 that provides encouragement and voice feedback during workouts.
  • User Experience: Motivational for fitness enthusiasts, but its utility depends on workout data accuracy.
  • Availability: watchOS 26+.

17. Foundation Models Framework

  • Description: A developer framework for integrating Apple Intelligence into third-party apps, supporting Swift, guided generation, and tool calling, with on-device and Private Cloud Compute processing.
  • User Experience: Enables apps like Day One and Etsy to offer privacy-focused AI features, enhancing user experiences without compromising data.
  • Availability: iOS 18.4+, iPadOS 18.4+, macOS Sequoia 15.4+.

18. Shortcuts Integration

  • Description: Adds intelligent actions to Shortcuts, allowing users to incorporate Writing Tools, Image Playground, or model responses into custom workflows.
  • User Experience: Powerful for automation enthusiasts, enabling complex tasks like comparing lecture notes to audio transcriptions.
  • Availability: iOS 18.4+, iPadOS 18.4+, macOS Sequoia 15.4+.

How to Use Apple Intelligence

Getting Started

  1. Update Your Device: Ensure your device runs iOS 18.1+, iPadOS 18.1+, macOS Sequoia 15.1+, or visionOS 2.4. Compatible devices include iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, iPhone 16 series, iPads with M-series chips, and Macs with M-series chips.
  2. Enable Apple Intelligence:
    • Go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri.
    • Join the waitlist (typically a few minutes).
    • Select Turn on Apple Intelligence. Models download over Wi-Fi, so keep your device connected to power for faster setup.
  3. Set Language: Apple Intelligence supports 15 languages, including English (US, UK, Australia, etc.), Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Japanese, and more. Ensure device and Siri languages match.
  4. Privacy Note: On-device processing ensures data stays local, with Private Cloud Compute handling complex tasks securely. ChatGPT integration requires user consent for data sharing.

Using Key Features

  • Writing Tools:
    • Highlight text in any app (e.g., Notes, Mail).
    • Tap the text to open the context menu and select Writing Tools.
    • Choose Proofread, Rewrite, Summarize, or Compose. For custom rewrites, select Describe Your Change and input a prompt (e.g., “Make this sound like a poem”).
    • Example: Summarize a long email by selecting text, choosing Summarize, and picking a format (paragraph, bullets, table).
  • Clean Up (Photos):
    • Open the Photos app, select an image, and tap Edit.
    • Choose Clean Up, then tap or brush over objects to remove them. The AI replaces the area with generated background imagery.
  • Natural Language Search (Photos):
    • In the Photos app, tap the search bar and describe what you want (e.g., “cat jumping”). Results appear instantly, including specific video moments.
  • Memory Movies:
    • In Photos, go to Memories, tap Create, and enter a description (e.g., “summer road trip”). The AI compiles a slideshow with music.
  • Notification Summaries:
    • Automatically enabled on supported devices. Check the Lock Screen or Notification Center for summarized alerts. Tap Priority Notifications for urgent messages.
  • Siri:
    • Activate Siri via voice, double-tap the home bar (iPhone/iPad), or Command key (Mac).
    • Type or speak queries. For ChatGPT-assisted tasks, Siri prompts for consent. Example: “Analyze this photo” redirects to ChatGPT if needed.
  • Image Playground:
    • Open the Image Playground app, enter a text prompt (e.g., “cartoon dog in a park”), and select a style (Animation, Illustration, Sketch). Share results via Messages or Keynote.
  • Genmoji:
    • In Messages, tap the emoji keyboard, select Genmoji, and describe the emoji (e.g., “smiling avocado”). Use as inline emojis or stickers.
  • Visual Intelligence (iPhone 16 only):
    • Press and hold the Camera Control button, point at an object, and view results (e.g., plant species). Tap to add events to Calendar or search further.
  • Live Translation:
    • In Messages, send or receive foreign-language texts for automatic translation. In FaceTime or Phone, enable subtitles or read-back translations via settings.
  • Shortcuts:
    • Open the Shortcuts app, create a new shortcut, and add Apple Intelligence actions like Summarize Text or Use Model. Example: Build a shortcut to summarize lecture audio and compare it to notes.

User Experience and Observations

Apple Intelligence feels polished yet incremental, blending seamlessly into Apple’s ecosystem. Writing Tools are a lifesaver for quick edits or summarizing long threads, but the AI-generated text can feel generic, requiring manual tweaks to preserve personality. Clean Up and Natural Language Search in Photos are practical for everyday use, rivaling Google’s Magic Eraser and Lens, though Clean Up struggles with complex edits. Memory Movies create delightful slideshows, but lack of customization limits their appeal for advanced users.

Siri is noticeably smarter, with a cleaner UI and better context understanding, but it’s not yet a full-fledged chatbot, and its staggered rollout (full LLM backend expected in 2026) tempers expectations. Image Playground and Genmoji are playful but not professional-grade, while Visual Intelligence is a game-changer for iPhone 16 users, though its exclusivity feels restrictive. Live Translation and Shortcuts Integration shine for multilingual users and automation fans, respectively, but require setup to maximize value.

Privacy is a standout: on-device processing and transparent ChatGPT integration give users confidence, unlike cloud-heavy competitors. However, occasional inaccuracies in summaries and limited feature availability (e.g., Visual Intelligence on iPhone 16 only) highlight areas for improvement.

Limitations

  • Feature Availability: Not all features are available on all devices (e.g., Visual Intelligence is iPhone 16-exclusive).
  • Inaccuracies: Notification summaries can misinterpret context, and Clean Up may leave artifacts in complex images.
  • Creative Limitations: Image Playground and Genmoji lack the depth of professional tools like Adobe or Midjourney.
  • Siri’s Evolution: While improved, Siri lags behind ChatGPT or Google Gemini in handling complex, multi-step requests.

Conclusion

Apple Intelligence is a promising first step into generative AI, blending practical tools like Writing Tools, Clean Up, and Visual Intelligence with Apple’s hallmark privacy focus. Its integration across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS makes it accessible, though the staggered rollout and device-specific features can frustrate early adopters. For casual users, features like Memory Movies and Notification Summaries enhance daily workflows, while developers benefit from the Foundation Models framework for privacy-centric app enhancements. Compared to xAI’s Grok, Apple Intelligence prioritizes ecosystem integration over conversational depth, making it ideal for Apple users but less versatile for open-ended queries.

To explore Apple Intelligence, update your device, enable the feature in Settings, and experiment with Writing Tools or Photos features for immediate impact. For the latest updates, visit https://www.apple.com/apple-intelligence.