iOS 18.2 Preview: Expanded AI features, Siri with ChatGPT, and major updates across Apple’s ecosystem

In early December, Apple plans to release iOS 18.2, packed with new AI enhancements and integrated tools across its operating systems, from iOS and iPadOS to macOS and visionOS. With the arrival of these updates, Apple will bring improvements to Siri, expand its image generation tools, and introduce new display and functionality options for users and developers alike.

Key Features Coming with iOS 18.2 and Beyond

1. Siri with ChatGPT Integration

The iOS 18.2 update will allow Siri to work with ChatGPT for certain queries, creating a more dynamic voice assistant experience. If Siri cannot answer a question, it can now redirect the query to ChatGPT, providing a response powered by OpenAI. No account is needed for this integration, and user data remains private. However, advanced ChatGPT capabilities, such as image generation and extensive text output, may require an optional ChatGPT Plus subscription, available for $19.99 per month. Subscribers gain access to 5x more advanced messaging and file upload capabilities, plus voice interaction with ChatGPT.

2. Image Playground and Image Wand

iOS 18.2 will introduce “Image Playground,” a tool for creating custom images based on user prompts. Users can describe scenes or choose from suggested themes and elements. This tool can also integrate with the Messages app, though it focuses on stylized, illustrated images rather than photorealism.

Additionally, the “Image Wand” feature, exclusive to the iPad’s Notes app, allows users to generate visuals directly by drawing sketches or circling specific areas in a note. The tool can interpret these markings to produce relevant images, adding creative potential for users working with Apple Pencil.

3. Genmoji Custom Emoji

Genmoji, Apple’s new personalized emoji creation feature, allows users to design emojis based on custom phrases or descriptions. Users can create characters inspired by friends and family, drawing on data from the People album in Photos. These custom emojis are accessible via the emoji keyboard, initially limited to iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 but expected to come to macOS Sequoia in future updates.

4. Visual Intelligence on iPhone 16

Available on the latest iPhone 16 models, Visual Intelligence offers users contextual information about their surroundings through the camera. By pointing the camera at locations or objects, such as restaurants, users can access relevant information like hours of operation or recent reviews. The feature also reads text, detects phone numbers, and even searches online for purchasable items.

5. Expanded Writing Tools

iOS 18.2 will refine Apple’s Writing Tools, making them more flexible and intuitive. Beyond simple tone adjustments, users can now specify tone or stylistic changes in greater detail, like adding action-oriented language or converting text into poetic form. Writing Tools will support a range of tones and content adjustments that reflect the user’s specific requirements.

6. Support for Additional English Dialects

Apple Intelligence, available in select regions, will now support various localized English versions, including Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, South African, Irish, and British English.

Developer Updates and Compatibility

Alongside these user-centric updates, Apple has released several betas for developers, including the second beta versions of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, and visionOS 2.2, as well as the first beta of watchOS 11.2 and tvOS 18.2. These updates enable developers to prepare their apps for Apple’s upcoming Siri and onscreen awareness features, providing APIs that let apps interact with Siri and Apple Intelligence to access and manipulate onscreen content.

Apple has also introduced visionOS 2.2, which supports new Wide and Ultrawide display modes for Mac Virtual Display, transforming the Vision Pro headset into a dual 4K monitor setup. Mac Virtual Display now includes Normal, Wide, and Ultrawide viewing modes, offering greater flexibility for Mac users.

Compatibility and Beta Access

The new Apple Intelligence features require the latest hardware, with iOS 18.2 compatible with iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, iPadOS 18.2 compatible with iPads with M-series or A17 Pro chips, and macOS Sequoia requiring M-series Macs. Currently, these betas are only accessible to developers, with a public beta anticipated soon.

Additional OS Features

1. Weather in macOS Sequoia Menu Bar: Users will see weather conditions directly in the macOS menu bar, providing quick access to local weather data and forecasts.
2. 21:9 Aspect Ratio Support in tvOS 18.2: Apple TV will now automatically detect and adjust to various aspect ratios, including 21:9, for optimized projector viewing. Other options include 2.37:1, DCI 4K, and 32:9.

These enhancements are expected to launch in early December, setting the stage for more advanced Apple Intelligence features and broader Siri capabilities, scheduled to roll out in iOS 18.4 in April 2025.