Apple Intelligence Debuts in iOS 18.1 Beta with Call Recording Feature
Apple has released the iOS 18.1 developer beta 1, introducing its much-anticipated Apple Intelligence features along with a long-awaited call recording capability. This update marks a significant step forward for iPhone functionality, but comes with some important caveats.
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| Apple Intelligence Beta introduces various AI features across devices, enhancing user experience |
Call Recording: A 17-Year Wait
After nearly two decades, iPhone users can finally record calls natively. The new feature, available in iOS 18.1 beta:
- Appears as an audio recording option during calls
- Automatically announces recording to all parties
- Saves recordings in the Notes app
- Generates transcripts using on-device processing
- Works offline, preserving privacy
Importantly, the basic recording and transcription functions don't require Apple Intelligence to be enabled.
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| Start recording and transcribing calls with a simple press of the icon on the call interface |
Apple Intelligence: Powerful but Limited
The broader Apple Intelligence suite brings AI-powered features to compatible devices. However, access is restricted:
- Only available on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max (all iPhone 16 models in future)
- Limited to U.S. users with English language settings
- Requires joining a waitlist after updating to iOS 18.1 beta
Apple Intelligence promises enhanced Siri capabilities, new creative tools, and privacy-focused AI processing.
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| Installation screen of Apple Intelligence on an iPhone 15 Pro Max, showcasing new AI capabilities |
Availability and Release Timeline
- Currently limited to developer beta participants
- Public beta expected in coming weeks
- Final iOS 18.1 release likely in October
While exciting, these features are still in testing. Users should expect potential bugs and changes before the official release.
As Apple cautiously rolls out its AI capabilities, it's clear the company is balancing innovation with privacy concerns and regulatory considerations. The staged release and U.S.-only availability suggest a measured approach to introducing these powerful new tools.
Update: Wednesday July 31 03:34
Apple Intelligence Beta introduces several AI-powered features for iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users. These include an enhanced Siri experience with improved speech recognition and contextual understanding, advanced writing tools offering tone and grammar suggestions, intelligent photo management with natural language image searching, and AI-generated memory montages. Future updates are expected to bring additional capabilities such as in-app Siri actions, image generation tools, and priority notifications. The full Apple Intelligence experience is projected to be complete by 2025, with gradual feature rollouts. This positions Apple to compete directly with Samsung's Galaxy AI and Google's Gemini in the mobile AI space.
