Apple’s developer beta for iOS 18.2 is live, giving users a first look at the new ChatGPT feature. As a fan of ChatGPT, I wondered what to expect with the AI model integrated directly into Siri.
Right from the start, I was a little annoyed because Apple kept asking me to confirm whether I wanted to use ChatGPT on what seemed like every request. But that’s a result of Apple’s commitment to user privacy. The confirmation prompt before sending data to ChatGPT is a security feature that gives users control over every interaction and helps keep sensitive information safe.
Additionally, after going through my settings, I discovered that I could disable the ChatGPT request option for a smoother experience. It’s actually a good idea to go through all the settings as there are several new ones with Apple Intelligence.
Here’s my first-hand account of trying out ChatGPT in iOS 18.2 and what I did with the various features.
Set up ChatGPT in iOS 18.2
To use ChatGPT in iOS 18.2, you’ll need to join Apple’s developer beta program. Once you have done that, you will need to download and install the update. From there, enabling ChatGPT is easy: just go back to your Settings. Open Settings and go to Siri & Search.
Enable Apple Intelligence and navigate to the ChatGPT switch to activate the feature. Once enabled, ChatGPT can be accessed via Siri, allowing users to have intelligent conversations, gain visual insights, generate images and more without additional apps.
I was wondering if I should cancel my ChatGPT Plus subscription. Was ChatGPT + Siri somehow a better or more powerful version than ChatGPT Plus? The short answer is no; If you are a ChatGPT Plus subscriber, simply link your OpenAI account in the settings section so you can still access the premium features.
1. Visual intelligence
Visual Intelligence combines ChatGPT’s image recognition with word processing to analyze documents, recognize characters and even identify objects. I took a picture of my cat and Siri basically told me how he’s living his best life. But Siri can do even more. How about that French restaurant you’ve always wanted to try but were afraid to because you don’t speak French? Now you can take a photo of the menu and Siri will translate it into English for you.
Another cool way to use ChatGPT is that a friend or colleague can now write down their phone number and Siri will understand the handwriting to call the number or add it to your contacts. So far I have taken a screenshot of this kind of information. Visual Intelligence is a powerful tool for anyone who needs instant information without having to switch between apps.
2. Conversational AI
ChatGPT enhances Siri with natural conversation skills. This is a significant improvement for Siri. For example, as long as you have ChatGPT enabled in the settings, you can now start and follow up on a query without restarting the entire context. I asked Siri for Boston travel tips and followed up with “Where should I eat?” without having to rephrase the text or restart it with the full context. Because ChatGPT adds context awareness for Siri, the AI assistant feels more like a friend who remembers details and responds with human intuition.
This does not have to be done audibly. You can also type into Siri like I did and you’ll get the same robust, conversational responses.
3. Image playground
Those who have used ChatGPT to generate images from text prompts will likely enjoy Image Playground’s creative features. You can describe an image to Siri and ChatGPT will generate an image based on the text prompt. I asked him to “Create a picture of a cupcake on a plate” and it did not disappoint. I experimented with a few different prompts, from custom backgrounds to silly cartoons.
I was impressed with the speed and quality of the images generated, but the AI isn’t perfect. Sometimes the images did not match what I expected from my directions. Overall, the feature is an idea for users who want to have some fun and a touch of personality while creating unique content for social media, for example.
Siri in action
I also tested Siri in other ways. I asked Siri to write a short thank you email to my neighbor and ChatGPT produced a professional, thoughtful message in seconds. It was a huge time saver and the result was polished and ready to ship.
I also tested ChatGPT’s language translation skills by asking Siri to translate a headline from a foreign news site. The translation was accurate (I had Google do it to be sure), perfect for understanding international news at a glance.
When I was brainstorming gifts for my kids’ teachers, I asked Siri for fresh ideas, and with the help of ChatGPT, it offered relevant, creative suggestions that inspired me to take my content in a new direction.
Final thoughts
Again, this update is still in beta and I had a few hiccups getting started with it, but I was able to get started with it after a call to Apple support. Users can hopefully anticipate refinements in the public release later this year.
Overall, from what I’ve seen, iOS 18.2 is already showing tremendous potential, from streamlining productivity to fostering creativity and connecting users with new ways to express themselves. For anyone eager to try a more advanced, personalized Siri, iOS 18.2’s ChatGPT integration is a must-explore.
