Apple is gearing up to release iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, tvOS 18.2, and HomePod 18.2, marking an exciting leap in natural language search and more. With these updates, Apple Music and Apple TV introduce advanced natural language search capabilities that redefine how users interact with their media. The updates are currently in their final beta stage and are expected to be available to the general public next week.
Natural language search elevates the experience across Apple Music and Apple TV, enabling casual, conversational queries to surface tailored results. In the Apple TV app, users can search for movies based on genres, moods, or specific actors, with examples like “movies about natural disasters,” “movies with Zendaya,” or even “exhilarating movies.” Apple Music adopts a similar approach, letting users explore playlists, artists, and songs by describing moods, themes, or activities.
This feature even extends to the HomePod, where Siri supports these enhanced search functions, offering seamless, hands-free discovery.
Beyond natural language search, iOS 18.2 introduces a suite of features that emphasize creativity, personalization, and efficiency. The new Image Playground app allows users to transform concepts and photos into unique visuals using animation and illustration styles, offering integrations with Messages and Freeform for creative collaboration. Genmoji provides an exciting way to design custom emojis directly from the keyboard, syncing seamlessly across devices.
Meanwhile, Apple’s integration of ChatGPT into Siri and Writing Tools enhances productivity, enabling users to compose, rewrite, and interact with AI-driven suggestions without requiring an OpenAI account. Privacy remains a priority, as requests made through Siri do not train OpenAI’s models.
The update also enhances camera functionality with Visual Intelligence, which uses the iPhone’s Camera Control to provide on-the-spot information about objects, places, and more. This feature is bolstered by a two-stage shutter for precise focus and exposure. In Photos, users gain improved navigation tools, video playback enhancements, and a clearer organization of albums, including a Favorites album now visible under Utilities.
Safari sees notable upgrades, including new customization options for the Start Page, enhanced data portability with import/export tools, and an HTTPS Priority feature that ensures secure browsing. The addition of a File Download Live Activity tracker offers real-time updates on downloads directly in the Dynamic Island or on the Home Screen, making file management smoother than ever.
Additional refinements include improved Mail categorization, allowing users to sort messages and bundle emails from the same sender. Stocks now support pre-market price quotes for NASDAQ and NYSE tickers, and fixes address issues with photo grid updates and long-exposure Night mode images on iPhone 16 Pro models.
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[…] to integrate their AI models into iPhones sold in China. Unlike in other regions where Apple collaborates with OpenAI to enhance AI-driven features in Siri, China’s regulatory framework poses unique challenges. […]