Here’s how to get Apple Intelligence on your iPhone today before iOS 18 launches this fall. (But be warned)

If you’re excited to get your hands on Apple’s new generative AI platform, known as Apple Intelligence, I have some good news and some bad news for you. First, the bad news: Apple Intelligence, the flagship feature of the iPhone’s upcoming iOS 18 software update, will now reportedly not be immediately available when iOS 18.0 launches in September. The company has said merely that it will come out sometime in the fall.

Now the good news: You don’t have to wait. You can try it out today. Here’s how:

Apple Intelligence delayed

Back in June, Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence, its long-awaited entry into the generative AI space. Apple Intelligence bakes in generative AI features across the iPhone’s iOS 18 operating system. These features include an AI-powered Siri, generative text capabilities, generative art (and emoji) creation, and ChatGPT integration.

The news pleased Wall Street and Apple fans alike, the former seeing Apple Intelligence—which is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and upcoming iPhone 16 models—as the driver for an iPhone upgrade supercycle this fall, and the latter just excited to get their hands on Apple’s first dedicated AI tools.

But they’re going to have to wait a little longer. That’s because Apple has decided to delay the rollout of Apple Intelligence from iOS 18.0 (available in September) to iOS 18.1 (likely not available till October). According to a Bloomberg report, delays are being made to give the company more time to fix bugs.

But this doesn’t mean you need to wait until October to use the iPhone’s new AI tools. In fact, you can start now.

How to get Apple intelligence on your iPhone today

This week, Apple took the unusual step of releasing a second version of the iOS 18 developer beta to members of its Apple Developer Program. The primary iOS 18 developer beta was released in early June, and it covers the iOS 18.0 build of the iPhone’s upcoming operating system––the one still scheduled to launch in September.

But now Apple has also released a separate iOS 18 developer beta, which is the iOS 18.1 version of the software—the build that will include Apple Intelligence and ship to all users in October.

If you are a member of the Apple Developer Program, or want to enroll for membership, you can get that iOS 18.1 beta on your iPhone today, granting you access to Apple Intelligence features that the general public now won’t gain access to until October.

But in addition to being an Apple Developer Program member, if you want get access to to the iOS 18.1 beta with Apple Intelligence, you’ll also need to have an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max. This is because Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro to run (all iPhone 16 models will support Apple Intelligence when they are released this fall).

Once you are an Apple Developer Program member, you can download the iOS 18.1 beta with Apple Intelligence onto your iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max immediately.

Should I download the iOS 18.1 beta?

If you aren’t an actual developer, it’s best to avoid the iOS 18.1 beta for now. This is because betas are notoriously buggy, and those bugs can have disastrous consequences for the data on your iPhone.

Developer betas are designed for those who have the technical knowledge to help troubleshoot problems that may arise from using beta software. Non-developers typically lack such skills, making using developer betas a riskier proposition.

Plus, it’s likely that in August Apple will release a public beta of iOS 18.1 to ordinary users who have signed up for its public beta program. Public betas are usually more stable, making them less risky to use. If you’re a non-developer it’s just better to hold off until Apple releases this public beta.

Besides, it’s not like the iOS 18.1 developer beta has all the features of Apple Intelligence included. As MacRumors notes, many of the coolest features of Apple Intelligence are nowhere to be found in the current iOS 18.1 developer beta. Missing features include flagship tools like the revamped Siri, generative art tools, generative emoji, and ChatGPT integration.

But even if you decide to hold off on installing the iOS 18.1 beta, you won’t have to wait long. It’ll only be a few more months until Apple Intelligence rolls out for anyone with the right iPhone to use.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91164945/how-to-get-apple-intelligence-on-your-iphone-today-ios-18-beta-launch?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss