Apple is set to release iOS 18.5, a point update that promises significant improvements in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. The new features include major upgrades to Siri, the company’s virtual assistant, as well as support for Apple Intelligence in China.
According to Mark Gurman, a notable technology journalist, iOS 18.5 will introduce several key enhancements to Siri. These changes will enable Siri to perform hundreds of new in-app and cross-app actions, making it more powerful than before. On-screen awareness is another upgrade, allowing Siri to understand what’s on the screen and perform actions based on it. Additionally, Siri will be able to understand personal context, behaving much like a human assistant.
The release of iOS 18.5 also marks an important step for Apple in addressing its biggest AI problems in China. With fierce competition from local smartphone makers offering their own AI support, bringing Apple Intelligence to the region is crucial for Apple’s sales. iPhone sales have been struggling in China, but Apple hopes that this new feature will help boost sales.
The expected release timing of iOS 18.5 varies between May and early June, according to Mark Gurman. What’s essential is that Apple gets it out before WWDC 2025 kicks off.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2025/03/03/ios-185-could-solve-two-of-apples-biggest-ai-problems