Commentary: If you're unable to access Apple Intelligence because you're using an older Apple device, don't worry. There are alternative apps that can help you replicate some of its key features.
Apple Intelligence, launched in October 2024, is a suite of AI tools integrated into newer Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and iMac, and accessible via the cloud. The release of iOS 18.2 introduced features like message summaries, writing tools, and image generation tools such as Image Playground and Genmoji. However, you need a newer device like the iPhone 15 Pro/15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 to use them.
As a creator focused on AI tools for business professionals, I was initially disappointed by the need for an upgrade. However, I realized that many of Apple Intelligence's features can be mimicked using other apps. Here are a few of the ways I'm doing this:
AI-Powered Writing Tools
Apple Intelligence provides a writing assistant across its apps, offering spelling checks, tone adjustments, summarization, proofreading, and smart replies. While Apple users with older devices can't access this, similar results can be achieved with other tools like Grammarly and ChatGPT.
Grammarly has been a long-time favorite for grammar and style adjustments. It even offers an iOS keyboard extension for use in apps like iMessage, Notes, and email. ChatGPT is another powerful AI writing assistant, and with the iOS 18.2 update, it integrates with Siri. With GPT-4, ChatGPT is more efficient and produces better content. You can use it for brainstorming, creating outlines, or writing full content.
Regardless of which AI tool you use, always review content before sharing it. Human oversight is essential, and if you use AI to create and publish content, a disclaimer is recommended.
AI for Photos, Image Generation, and Custom Emojis
Apple Intelligence can analyze your photo library and help you find specific images, and its new tools (Image Playground and Genmoji) allow you to generate custom images and emojis. However, these features are not available in China or the EU due to regulatory restrictions.
Google Photos and Dropbox offer similar photo AI features like automatic tagging based on objects, locations, and faces. Google Photos, for example, recognizes faces and lets you search for specific people, while Dropbox also provides image search, though it lacks facial recognition.
Notification Prioritization
Apple Intelligence uses AI to manage your notifications, analyzing messages, calendar invites, and photos to prioritize and summarize them. If you're looking to manage notifications more efficiently, you can start by removing unnecessary apps and using iOS's built-in Focus modes, which let you customize notifications based on time and context.
Apple’s existing notification settings, such as turning on notifications for critical alerts, can be sufficient for most users.
Start Using AI Today
Although Apple Intelligence is still evolving, you don’t need to wait for a device upgrade to incorporate AI into your life. There are plenty of tools you can use now to make your day-to-day activities easier.
For more information on AI tools that can improve your online experience, check out my YouTube channel.
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