CUPERTINO: Apple’s latest iOS 18.1 developer beta introduces a suite of new features powered by artificial intelligence, aimed at enhancing the phone experience for users. These updates include the ability to record and transcribe phone calls, a feature that could be particularly beneficial for professionals such as journalists and anyone needing to keep detailed records of conversations.
As reported by MacRumours, the new iOS 18.1 beta integrates these capabilities into Apple’s existing phone app through its Apple Intelligence platform. Users participating in the beta can activate call recording by tapping a new “record” button located in the top-left corner of the call screen. Once recording is initiated, all participants on the call will hear a notification stating, “This call will be recorded.”
The phone app will not only capture the audio of the conversation but will also automatically generate a transcription of the call. This transcription will be stored in the Notes app, where users can also access the full audio recording and an AI-generated summary of the conversation.
This feature was first previewed during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. According to The Verge, the ability to record and transcribe calls could be especially useful for professionals who conduct interviews or for users needing to recall detailed information from phone consultations, such as medical appointments.
In addition to the call recording feature, the iOS 18.1 beta includes other AI-driven enhancements. Users will now be able to perform natural language searches in their photo library, receive email summaries in the Mail app, and experience an updated design for Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant. These improvements reflect Apple’s ongoing efforts to incorporate AI into its suite of apps and services, aiming to streamline user interactions and enhance functionality.
While these features offer significant advancements, Bloomberg reports that the full rollout, including a more AI-augmented version of Siri, may not be expected until 2025.
