Is Apple Intelligence Finally Making Your Life Easier? 6 Features I Can’t Live Without
Apple’s AI revolution is here – but are its features actually useful? After months of testing iOS 18.5’s Apple Intelligence on my iPhone 16 Pro, I’ve discovered six features that quietly improved my daily routine. From smarter notifications to a silent Siri revolution, here’s what’s cutting through the AI noise. Let’s dive in.
🤖 The Rocky Start: Why Apple Intelligence Felt Underwhelming
- 📱 Limited Device Support: Only works on iPhone 15 Pro/16 series, excluding millions of users
- ⏳ Delayed Siri Upgrades: Personalization features pushed to 2025-2026 roadmap
- 🤦 AI Quirks: Security camera alerts claiming "10 people at your door" (it was just wind)
- 🔧 Beta Blues: Still officially labeled experimental software after 9 months
✅ The Game Changers: 6 Features That Actually Stick
- Priority Notifications ✅
Uses AI to surface weather alerts, urgent emails, and frequent contacts – reduced my lock screen clutter by 40% - TL;DR Superpower ✅
One-tap summaries for emails, articles, and even group texts – perfect for scanning 500-word emails in 15 seconds - Silent Siri Revolution ✅
Double-tap iPhone edges to type queries – no more shouting "Hey Siri" in coffee shops - Photo Clean-Up ✅
Erase photobombers and lens dust in 3 taps – not Photoshop-level, but great for quick social posts - Smart Focus Mode ✅
Blocks distractions but lets through bank alerts – saved me from missing a fraud warning during a movie - ChatGPT Team-Up ✅
When Siri stumbles, it hands off to ChatGPT – no account needed for recipe conversions or trivia
⚠️ The Catch: Why It’s Not Perfect Yet
- 🚧 AI Quirks: Summaries sometimes miss sarcasm ("Great job!" becomes literal praise)
- 📱 Hardware Lock: Requires $999+ devices – no love for older iPhones
- 🔋 Battery Impact: 7-12% faster drain with all features enabled
- 🌐 Regional Limits: ChatGPT integration unavailable in China and parts of Europe
🚀 Final Verdict: Should You Enable Apple Intelligence?
The answer depends on your tolerance for beta software. For me, the notification filtering and silent Siri alone justify turning it on. But wait if:
- 📉 You need 100% reliable summaries
- 📉 You’re not ready for occasional oddball AI moments
With iOS 19’s rumored upgrades coming at WWDC, Apple Intelligence might soon feel essential. Are you team “Enable Everything” or “Wait for Version 2”?
Let us know on X (Former Twitter)
Sources: Jeff Carlson. These Are the 6 Apple Intelligence Features I Regularly Use in iOS 18.5, May 15, 2025. https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/these-are-the-6-apple-intelligence-features-i-regularly-use-in-ios-18-5/
