iOS 18 gets productivity AI features and RCS support

In the exclusive question and answer section for subscribers to his channel Run the newsletter Apple insider Mark Gurman has revealed that iOS 18 could be the biggest update in iPhone history. With a launch planned for September and an initial developer beta at the WWDC event in June, the question becomes: What features will be added to iOS 18?

New features iOS 18

Support RCS system

Apple is expected to support the Rich Communication Services (RCS) protocol in the Messages app in iOS 18. The successor to SMS offers several new features such as high-resolution photos and videos, voice messages, which appear when someone types a message, and Wi-Fi messaging. Between iPhone and Android devices, enhanced group chats and encryption. SMS and MMS will also remain available as an alternative.

Siri is smarter

In iOS 18, Siri should get smarter and more helpful. Mark Gurman predicts the integration of generative AI technology, a major addition that will transform the voice assistant and messaging app. From answering questions to automatically completing sentences, Siri will provide new ways to interact. AI features will be available in Apple Music, Pages, Keynote, Xcode, and more.

The information stated that Apple plans to add advanced language models to Siri, which will allow users to automate complex tasks. This functionality will likely be achieved through deeper integration with the Shortcuts app. This feature is expected to appear in 2024, likely as part of iOS 18.