Apple has officially rolled out iOS 18.3, the latest update aimed at enhancing its Apple Intelligence capabilities. While previous versions introduced major AI-driven features, this update focuses on refining existing tools, particularly in Visual Intelligence and notification management.
Visual Intelligence Gets Smarter
One of the standout improvements in iOS 18.3 is the upgrade to Visual Intelligence. This feature allows users to perform searches and gain information about their surroundings using the Camera Control button. Previously, it could identify objects and provide contextual details, but the update takes this a step further.
The new enhancement enables real-time identification of plants and animals. Users can now take a picture and instantly receive detailed information about species, adding more depth to Apple’s AI-driven tools. Additionally, Visual Intelligence now includes a scanning function for posters and flyers. This allows users to tap on a detected date and seamlessly add events to their calendar.
Refined Notification Summaries
Apple has also made significant changes to how notifications are summarized. The feature, designed to condense multiple notifications into a single, digestible update, had faced criticism for inaccuracies in past versions. Some news summaries incorrectly interpreted headlines, leading to misleading notifications.
In response, Apple briefly disabled notification summaries for News & Entertainment apps. Now, with iOS 18.3, Apple reintroduces the feature with refined management settings. Users can now control notification summaries directly from the lock screen. The updated summaries also feature italicized text and new glyphs to improve readability.
Apple Intelligence Becomes Default
A notable shift in iOS 18.3 is that Apple Intelligence is now enabled by default. Previously, users had to opt in to use AI-powered tools, but with this update, it’s automatically turned on. Those who prefer not to use Apple Intelligence can disable it manually through the settings.
Additional Enhancements
Alongside AI improvements, iOS 18.3 introduces minor but useful tweaks. The Calculator app now repeats the last mathematical operation when users tap the equals button. Apple has also fixed a persistent issue where the keyboard would disappear when attempting to use typed Siri requests.
How to Update
Users can install iOS 18.3 by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update. Those with automatic updates enabled will receive the update without manual intervention.
Apple continues to refine its AI-driven ecosystem, ensuring that each update brings meaningful enhancements to the user experience.
