Every year, Apple and Google release major software updates that bring new features to our smartphones. From cosmetic changes to the home screen, stronger privacy protections, to more enjoyable messaging tools. However, this year, these changes will be more radical because both companies are focusing on the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution on our phones.
At its annual software developer conference, Apple showcased a number of enhancements coming this fall with iOS 18, the operating system that powers the iPhone. These enhancements include the latest version of the Siri voice assistant that is easier to talk to, as well as an AI system that can generate images, summarize web articles, and respond to text messages and emails.
Not to be outdone, Google also announced Android updates that include an AI system that automatically summarizes audio transcripts, detects phone call scams, and helps students with homework.
Although AI technology is still relatively new, its impact on society is not yet fully clear. However, the most immediate change is the improvement in text messaging. Apple will adopt a messaging standard that allows iPhone users to send high-quality messages to Android, solving a communication problem that has existed for over a decade.
Apple and Google plan to release their free software updates for iOS and Android this fall. Here’s what you need to know about how our smartphones will change.
Siri Gets AI Enhancements
Apple announced that they have significantly changed Siri. This virtual assistant will soon be powered by Apple Intelligence, the company’s version of a “large language model.” This technology uses complex statistics and algorithms to predict the words that will appear, similar to the autotext feature on your phone. This is the underlying technology that also powers chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. Apple says that their system is more personal because user data stays on their iPhones.
These enhancements allow Siri to process conversation context and make interactions with the virtual assistant more natural. For example, you can say, “How’s the weather in Santa Cruz? Oh, wait, I meant San Francisco,” and then continue with “Schedule a coffee meeting there tomorrow at 9 am.”
The new Siri will also be able to handle more complex tasks, such as searching for images in your photo albums and copying ID numbers into forms. In addition, Siri can automatically generate images in messages, such as creating avatars of your friends when saying happy birthday.
These AI features are also implemented in the Mail and Notes apps, allowing users to highlight text for proofreading or changing writing styles. In Safari, users can highlight articles to create a short summary. Apple said that they have partnered with OpenAI so that Siri can access ChatGPT to assist with tasks like creating recipe idea lists. However, these artificial intelligence features will only be available on the latest and fastest iPhones, including the iPhone 15 Pro, this fall.
Google Remakes Android with Gemini
Google also introduced Gemini, their new artificial intelligence assistant. While most of these features are only available to Pixel phone owners, support for other Android devices is expected soon. Gemini acts like a chatbot that generates responses to your commands, similar to ChatGPT. The new version of Gemini, called Nano, focuses on handling AI tasks directly on Pixel phones for privacy purposes.
One interesting Gemini feature is phone call scam detection. If a phone conversation matches a scam pattern, such as someone asking for an online banking password, your phone will send a warning. The Circle to Search feature, which allows users to highlight images to request information, is now expanded to help students solve math or physics problems by providing solution steps.
Gemini Nano can also take transcripts from audio recordings and create written summaries, which is very useful for meetings. Another tool, Magic Compose, can be used in the Google Messages app to rewrite messages in various styles.
Improvements for Text Messages
For over a decade, smartphone users have faced a separation between green and blue message bubbles. Messages between iPhone users appear in blue and have exclusive features such as emojis and fun animations. However, messages to Android users appear in green with lower quality.
Apple finally addresses this problem by adopting Rich Communication Services in iOS 18. This will allow images and videos in messages between iPhones and Android to have better quality, although the messages will still be green.
These changes are expected to reduce the inconvenience of iPhone and Android users in communicating. Apple also added new features to iMessage, such as the ability to schedule message sending, helping users respect each other’s deadlines.
Conclusion
The artificial intelligence developments from Apple and Google promise a more personal and practical user experience. From a smarter Siri to a more interactive Gemini, AI technology is ready to change how we interact with smartphones. These updates not only make phones smarter but also make communication smoother and more efficient. So, make sure you’re ready to download and experience these innovations this coming fall!
