Apple has released iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2, which means local language access to Apple Intelligence is now available to iPhone, Mac, and iPad users in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand. (They’ve had to set their language to US English to use these features until now; users will need to update their software first, as it rolls out.)
It’s a critical release that puts direct, local language access to Apple Intelligence into the hands of tens of millions of new users. The release also introduces several additional tools to the Apple Intelligence arsenal, including new Writing Tools and integrated access to ChatGPT for some tasks. Though you aren’t obliged to use ChatGPT.
Back in the UK
The UK introduction is particularly interesting, coinciding as it does with a visit there by Apple CEO Tim Cook. During his visit, he discussed Apple’s ever-growing investments in the UK and confirmed company engineers are deeply involved in building components of those AI features, from silicon development to the company’s important work on Private Cloud Compute. It seems appropriate given his appearance in the UK to introduce Apple Intelligence at around the same time. Though I suspect if Steve Jobs had made the same journey, Apple might have run a “Meet Apple Intelligence” event to generate some media attention.