Apple has rolled out the iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 public betas, bringing a fresh wave of AI-powered tools and features that were previously only available to developers. One standout addition is ChatGPT integration within Siri, which allows users to ask complex questions directly through Apple’s voice assistant. Siri can now respond with ChatGPT’s insights and will flag when ChatGPT is taking over to answer. The integration is free and account-free, though there’s an optional upgrade to ChatGPT Plus, expanding usage limits.

Apple’s new Genmoji feature is another exciting development. Genmoji allows users to create personalized emojis based on descriptions. This feature is accessible through the Messages app, where users can combine emojis or use text prompts to create unique custom icons, giving iMessage chats a personal touch​.

Another major addition is Image Playground, Apple’s answer to AI-powered image generation. Users can input prompts to create custom illustrations or animations, which can be shared in Messages and Mail, or through the standalone Image Playground app. While Genmoji and Image Playground are included in the beta, access is gradually rolling out, so users may need to wait for notifications confirming their availability.

iPhone 16 users get an exclusive perk with Visual Intelligence, which works through the camera to identify objects or text in real-time. For instance, it can recognize dog breeds, add event details to calendars from posters, and even provide restaurant details from photos of building exteriors. This Visual Intelligence feature adds a layer of practical AI interaction that leverages Apple’s powerful camera tech​.

Finally, Writing Tools—available across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS—have also received upgrades. These tools offer advanced AI writing assistance, helping users shape messages or emails with specific tones, proofread, and add visual content like graphs. This aligns Apple’s software more closely with the text-generation capabilities seen in other AI writing applications​.

The beta also includes macOS 15.2, which brings many of these features to Macs, though Visual Intelligence and Genmoji remain exclusive to iPhones and iPads.