How ChatGPT works with iOS 18.2 iPhones and Siri

Apple Intelligence has been available for a couple of weeks now, but the work continues. Apple recently pushed out the second iOS 18.2 developer beta, which reveals more about how ChatGPT integration will work with iPhones running Apple Intelligence.

As we’ve discussed, Apple has a three-strand approach to generative AI (genAI): The first strand consists of its own Apple Intelligence LLM models working on the device itself; the second is when it runs the same self-made models using secure servers in data centers; the third element is to offload to ChatGPT any requests Apple’s own technologies cannot handle. 

For users, the approach is quite seamless, though they can expect some kind of warning in the event an Apple Intelligence request must be handed to ChatGPT for completion. If they’re uncomfortable sharing the request with a third party — as some users in some industries should be — they can terminate the query before it’s passed along. The basic idea is that Siri will use ChatGPT to handle queries it lacks the ability or information to handle, particularly what Apple calls “world knowledge, such as recipes or information about locations. Siri handles the personal stuff.

But this much we already knew, so what’s new in iOS 18.2?

Free, but with limits

The arrangement Apple has made for using OpenAI means users can access ChatGPT for free, though if they already pay for the service, they can login with their own account.

There are, however, some limits to that free usage, as revealed in iOS 18.2 beta 2. The beta shows you can enable or disable the service completely if you choose. You’ll also find a new Advanced Capabilities section where you’ll be able to monitor use and check whether you are within the daily limit for access to its advanced tools. You might need to do so, as Siri could use ChatGPT when composing text or creating images. If you need more access, you can subscribe to ChatGPT’s premium service from the Advanced Capabilities item.

We don’t know if Apple takes a cut of that sale, but I imagine it must; if not, others selling services on the company’s platform would want the same deal. ChatGPT Plus ($19.99/month) benefits include access to more advanced LLM models and higher limits for photo and file uploads, image generation, web browsing, and more.

Also coming with iOS 18.2

The update will also see additional Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji and Image Playground. The latter is visible in different parts of the system; when you highlight text in the Notes app, a new Create Image option appears that lets you use Image Playground to generate an image based on that text. Mail now categorizes incoming messages for you into different sections, including important “Primary” messages, a Transactions section, and Updates for newsletters and similar things. The Promotions category will capture all the special offer emails you just can’t get rid of.

You will be able to share Find My Location information with others. This could be useful if you are tracking down lost luggage, for example, or in the event you need to share the location of your stolen Apple device with law enforcement. The update also enables use of iPhone Mirroring when your device is connected to a shared hotspot with a Mac and an improvement to Camera Control which adds new auto-exposure and focus lock options for that button. But for many iPhone users, the big news will be support for use of the service in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Canada and the U.K.

If you are using an iPhone 16 you’ll gain a new Visual Intelligence tool, so that the iPhone can get information about whatever you point the camera at. The big AI highlight on Apple’s platforms for next year is currently the addition of contextual intelligence and on-screen awareness to Siri. Intimations of how this could work are visible in the current developer beta which lets Siri react to spoken commands that relate to in-app contents.

When will iPhones gain ChatGPT access?

Apple expects to enable ChatGPT integration via Siri in early December (Dec. 2?) when iOS 18.2 is expected to ship. Apple Intelligence is not expected to reach Europe until next year. But users in the EU will be able to console themselves with another new feature in iOS 18.2, which will allow them to select a different default browser on iPads and iPhones. EU users will also be able to define third-party default apps in a new section in Settings.

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