Prelude to iOS 18
How Apple Intelligence and AppIntent Will Revolutionize iPhone Experience
The upcoming release of iOS 18 marks a pivotal moment in mobile technology, with the introduction of Apple Intelligence, a major shift that promises to change the way users interact with mobile apps—and even manage their digital lives.
With enhancements like tighter integration with ChatGPT, smarter notification prioritization, web page summaries, and a complete overhaul of Siri, Apple Intelligence brings futuristic possibilities to the table. But the real game-changer lies in how Apple Intelligence revolutionizes app interactions, particularly through the App Intents framework.
The iOS Ecosystem: Where We’ve Been Stuck
The iOS ecosystem is home to millions of apps, each specialized in its niche. From fitness trackers to recipe apps, the most successful apps help users accomplish tasks seamlessly. However, two key bottlenecks have held back the iOS experience, leaving users feeling a lack of excitement or engagement.
1. The iOS Ecosystem: Where We’ve Been Stuck
One of the major challenges for iPhone users is the lack of easy, seamless integration between apps. Imagine you’re using a cooking app to follow a recipe. It’s great at explaining the steps, but when it comes time to order ingredients from a service like DoorDash, you’re stuck manually entering each item. The solution? App developers must form collaborations and API partnerships with specific services, which is slow and restrictive. Not everyone uses DoorDash, so you’re back to square one.
While some app collaborations do exist—like HSBC Business Go integrating with Xero for real-time bank transaction updates—they are the exception, not the rule. Currently, integrating functionality between apps is cumbersome. These integrations are often defined by complex business arrangements and, unfortunately, slow to implement.
2. Siri’s Missed Potential
Since its debut over a decade ago, Siri has struggled to meet expectations. Many Reddit threads are filled with user complaints about how Siri is “getting worse” and failing to live up to the promise of a true AI assistant. The reason? Siri has been largely blind to the vast troves of information stored within your apps.
Siri’s limited functionality is a direct result of not having deep access to app-specific data. Sure, it can answer general queries, but when it comes to taking meaningful actions within your apps—like booking a table in a restaurant app or sending a file from a document app—it falls short.
How Apple Intelligence and App Intents Change Everything
Here’s where Apple Intelligence and the App Intents framework come in. App Intents opens the door for apps to become smarter, more connected, and context-aware. No longer do apps exist in silos, waiting for manual input or specialized partnerships to enable cross-functionality. Now, apps can share information, take action on your behalf, and even leverage Siri in more powerful ways.
For example, instead of manually entering your recipe’s ingredients into DoorDash, Apple Intelligence will allow you to say, "Order these items for me," and Siri will automatically pass the data to the right app—whether it's DoorDash, Uber Eats, or your local grocery store's delivery service. This is true automation at its finest, saving you time and reducing friction.
Apple Intelligence is designed to understand not just what’s happening in one app but across all your apps. With App Intents, Siri can finally leverage the rich data within your apps, making interactions more intelligent and efficient. It’s not just a smarter assistant; it’s an entirely new way of using your phone.
A Breakthrough in iOS Functionality
iOS 18 is set to break down the long-standing barriers that have limited app functionality. With Apple Intelligence at its core, this release is more than just an update—it's a fundamental shift in how apps operate and interact. At the heart of this breakthrough is the App Intents Framework, enabling developers to follow a standardized protocol for declaring internal functionalities and even digital assets, all while maintaining data security.
Originally introduced at WWDC20, App Intents have been completely revamped in WWDC24, making them more powerful and accessible than ever before.
Note: App Intents is NOT App Shortcuts
People may mix up App Interns and App Shortcuts! Understanding the relationship between App Intents and App Shortcuts is key. Here’s a breakdown to clarify their roles:
App Intents: These are developer-defined actions that users can run within your app. They form the backbone of automation, allowing apps to expose functionality to the system.
App Shortcuts: These are built on top of App Intents and allow certain App Intents to be surfaced to the user automatically. Shortcuts enable users to quickly access these actions through Spotlight, Siri, or the Shortcuts app.
In short, while App Intents can exist on their own, integrating them into App Shortcuts enhances the user's ability to access and automate tasks without extra effort.
Leapfrogging
This breakthrough in app functionality isn’t just an incremental improvement—it’s a revolution. No more fragmented workflows. No more limited interactions. iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence create an ecosystem where apps and Siri work together in harmony to simplify users' digital lives.
With iOS 18, Apple is tackling the two biggest pain points of the iOS ecosystem—limited app-to-app integrations and Siri’s underperformance. By breaking down these barriers, Apple Intelligence is setting a new standard for mobile interaction. It’s time to get excited about iOS again.
As Apple Intelligence rolls out, developers and users alike will see firsthand how transformative this technology is. Whether it’s simplifying daily tasks or bringing apps together in ways we’ve never imagined, iOS 18 is a leap forward into the future of mobile intelligence.
On App Intelligence release date :
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has confirmed that the rollout of Apple Intelligence will be delayed, with a tentative release slated for October 2024. Although the initial iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 releases will go live in September alongside the new iPhone 16 models, users will need to wait for iOS 18.1 to experience Apple’s much-hyped AI features.