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With iOS 18.4, Apple is continuing its AI strategy and bringing some significant innovations to Apple Intelligence. Apple's artificial intelligence was introduced with iOS 18.1 and has been continuously expanded. With the upcoming update, Siri is expected to receive new features, Apple is improving the notification system, and there is expanded support for Apple Intelligence in additional regions.
While iOS updates often only contain minor improvements and bug fixes, iOS 18.4 brings significant progress in the area of artificial intelligence. Siri in particular is becoming more intelligent and can now respond to the context in which it is used. The integration of Apple Intelligence in the EU, new language support and optimized notification management are other focal points. Here are the seven most important innovations in detail.
Onscreen Awareness for Siri
One of the most significant improvements concerns Siri. The assistant will be able to recognize the screen content and respond to requests accordingly. If a message with an address appears on the display, Siri can add it directly to a contact on command, without the user having to explicitly state the address. This function is based on the onscreen awareness technology that Apple already uses in visionOS for the Vision Pro. It is now being expanded to iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Expanded App Action Catalog for Siri
With iOS 18.4, Siri gains access to a variety of new app actions through the "App Intents" system. This allows her to perform tasks without having to open an app manually. These include finding and editing photos or storing files in specific folders - all controlled via voice commands. It is particularly noteworthy that Siri can now integrate several apps into one action at the same time. One example would be the request to edit an image and then store it in a specific folder.
Personal context knowledge for Siri
Siri can now access and manage more information about the user. This means that she can find content even if the user doesn't know exactly where it was stored. A recipe that was included in an email, note or message can be found on request without having to specify the source. In addition, Siri can retrieve personal data such as a passport number or calendar entries if the user requests this.
Priority Notifications
The organization of notifications is becoming more intelligent. Previously, users had to decide for themselves which messages were important. With iOS 18.4, this is done by Apple Intelligence. The system analyzes the content of incoming notifications and prioritizes them accordingly. Similar to the "Priority" function in the Mail app, important messages are automatically displayed higher up in the notification stack so that they are noticed more quickly.
Sketch style in Image Playground
The Image Playground app introduced by Apple is getting a new style option with iOS 18.4. Previously, images could be created in "Animation", "Illustration" and "Sketch" modes, although the sketch option was missing in the previous version. The new update adds the feature so that users can generate and edit images in sketch style.
Apple Intelligence available in the EU
Apple has confirmed that Apple Intelligence will be available in the European Union with iOS 18.4 – most recently during the Q1/2025 conference call. Previously, the AI features were only available on Macs, leaving iPhones and iPads out. With the upcoming update, Apple mobile devices in the EU will also have access to Apple Intelligence.
New language support for Apple Intelligence
Apple is expanding the language options for Apple Intelligence. The company has already announced that the following languages will be supported in the future:
- Chinese
- English (India, Singapore)
- French
- German
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Portuguese
- Spanish
- Vietnamese
In addition, there will be other supported languages that Apple has not yet specified in detail.
iOS 18.4 as a milestone for Apple Intelligence
With iOS 18.4, Apple Intelligence continues to gain momentum. Siri, in particular, benefits from the new features, as she is now able to better understand context and perform cross-app actions. The launch of Apple Intelligence in the EU, the prioritization of important notifications, and the new language options demonstrate that Apple is continuing to expand its AI capabilities and make them accessible to a broader user base. The completed update is expected in April and represents an important milestone for Apple Intelligence. Looking ahead to iOS 19, which is expected to be announced at WWDC in June, will reveal how Apple will further advance AI integration. Looking for high-quality accessories? In our Amazon Storefront, you'll find numerous products from leading suppliers, ideal for HomeKit and much more! (Image: Apple)
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