iOS 18: Could This Be the ‘Biggest’ Software Update in iPhone’s History?

In his exclusive Q&A section for subscribers in today’s Power On newsletter, Gurman suggested that iOS 18 could potentially become the most significant software update in the history of the iPhone. According to Gurman, the new operating system is perceived within the company as one of the most substantial updates, if not the largest, ever seen in the company’s history.

Gurman plans to reveal more specifics about the upcoming features and changes in iOS 18 in future updates. However, two features are already known, and it’s anticipated that they will be part of the update. The release of iOS 18 is scheduled for September, with the first beta for developers expected to be unveiled during Apple’s annual WWDC in June.

The Big Upcoming Updates in iOS 18

RCS Support

Apple’s announcement in November 2023 indicated that RCS support would be integrated into the Messages app on iPhones later in 2024, making it likely to be a part of iOS 18. This support is expected to bring several enhancements to the default messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices, including higher-resolution photos and videos, audio messages, typing indicators, read receipts, Wi-Fi messaging between iPhones and Android devices, improved group chats, and enhanced encryption compared to SMS.

Smarter Siri

Gurman anticipates that iOS 18 will incorporate generative AI technology, enhancing how Siri and the Messages app handle questions and auto-complete sentences. The Information reported that Apple plans to integrate large language models into Siri, allowing users to automate complex tasks with deeper integration into the Shortcuts app. This feature is expected to be part of an iPhone software update in 2024, likely corresponding to iOS 18.

Generative AI gained popularity in 2022 with the release of ChatGPT by OpenAI, a chatbot capable of responding to questions and prompts. Other companies, including Google and Microsoft, followed suit with their own chatbots in the subsequent year. These chatbots, trained on large language models, enable them to respond in a human-like manner.