Apple’s iOS 18 Touted as Most Significant Update Ever, Bringing RCS and Advanced AI Features. Apple’s iOS 18 is poised to be a landmark update, potentially the most significant in iPhone history, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In his “Power On” newsletter, Gurman emphasizes the internal view at Apple that iOS 18 could be one of the most crucial updates the company has ever undertaken.
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The upcoming operating system is expected to bring several groundbreaking features. One such feature, already confirmed by Apple, is the integration of the “Rich Communication Service” (RCS) protocol. This enhancement will facilitate smoother multimedia messaging between iPhone and Android devices. RCS will offer the ability to send high-resolution photos and videos, audio messages, large files, and provide encryption features, group chats, and more, significantly enriching the messaging experience.
Another exciting development in iOS 18 is the planned improvements for Siri. The update is expected to incorporate generative artificial intelligence, enabling Siri to generate more complex and contextually relevant responses, much like what users experience with technologies like ChatGPT.
Furthermore, iOS 18 is rumored to integrate AI features into Apple’s iWork suite, including apps like Keynote and Pages. This integration could transform how users interact with these applications, offering more intuitive and intelligent functionalities. Additionally, developers will likely have access to new APIs, allowing them to incorporate generative AI into their own projects, thus broadening the scope and capabilities of third-party apps.
Last November, rumors circulated about iOS 18 being an “ambitious project,” hinting at major new features and a refreshed design, along with performance and security improvements.
While the first beta of iOS 18 is expected to be unveiled at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, there’s still considerable time for Apple to finalize its focus areas or decide on postponements. With five months until WWDC, anticipation builds as users and developers eagerly await what could be a transformative update for the iPhone ecosystem.
