Apple Intelligence, the much-hyped and long-awaited artificial intelligence platform from the tech major, described as a game-changer for mobile users, has finally arrived.
The California-based company is promising a lot of features but, for now, we'll dive into the key elements in the technology's first iteration, which was released on Monday through software updates.
Polish your writing
Your favourite Apple Intelligence feature will depend on your preference. In our case, we'd have to give that nod to Rewrite within Writing Tools, which helps you modify a message to make it more friendly, professional or concise. This comes in handy when you want to tailor messages to different recipients.
You can access Writing Tools by tapping on the new Apple Intelligence icon alongside the tool bar above the virtual keyboard. You can also proofread messages to scan for errors, in addition to adding summaries, key points and lists. There's also an option to insert a table, but this feature isn't available yet.
Summaries all over
Normally, when you receive a bulk of notifications on your lock screen, it's stacked up and you have to tap to view all of them. Apple Intelligence helps clean this up by summarising the content of all those notifications.
On the mail app, you also have the option to summarise an email, which can come in handy, especially if it's a long one and you only want an idea of what it contains. The same concept applies to Messages on the lock screen. Over on Safari, you'll also have an option to get an overview of the web page you're visiting.
Cleaning up and editing images
This is probably what a good number of iPhone users have been waiting for: highly advanced editing of images and cleaning up unwanted elements from your snaps.
In the Photos app, select an image and tap on the edit icon (the one that looks like sliders), and the new clean-up option will appear (tapping on it the first time will prompt a download for the feature). Tap on it and Apple Intelligence will highlight the elements it thinks need to be removed; otherwise, you can just make a selection by drawing an outline around the things you want gone.
This works well for, say, removing objects on a grass field, as the feature can quickly fill that up. More complex backgrounds such as a busy street or a cafe with tables in the background can be tricky. This one's a work in progress that we expect will be improved over time.
Hey Siri, you're (too) fast
Long-time AI assistant Siri is now “more natural, flexible and deeply integrated into the system experience”, according to Apple. In other words, Siri is more accurate – even if you change your request.
For example, we asked it to “set an alarm for 5pm, no make that 6pm to go to the grocery and pick up apples, no, bananas”; it was able to understand and make all the changes we requested.
Here's what we observed: Siri sometimes seems to be a little too fast to respond: in the request above, it sometimes went ahead and set the reminder for the alarm before we could even say what it was for, or it set the alarm and what it was for before we said what we wanted to buy. We aren't sure on how much delay Siri needs before it can execute your command.
But the important thing is that it works and is very fluid. And a bonus aesthetic: activating Siri won't trigger its famous glowing ball below the screen; instead, the borders of your iPhone will glow, which is like bringing your device to life (and seemingly driving home the point of a new era for it).
Apple Intelligence isn't perfect for now – but we won't fault Apple for a modest first version. It is most certainly working behind the scenes to improve things. The next iteration is expected on the iOS 18.2 update, set to be launched in December.
How do you get Apple Intelligence?
To get Apple Intelligence, just upgrade to iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1. The compatible devices are the iPhone 16 line-up, the iPhone 15 Pro models, iPad Air and Pro with M1 and upwards. Also suitable are the A17 Pro iPad Mini, MacBook Air and Pro, iMac and Mac mini with M1 and later, the Mac Studio with M1 and upwards, and the M2 Ultra Mac Pro.
But here's a caveat: you'll have to join a waiting list before you can actually use Apple Intelligence. Under settings, go to Apple Intelligence and Siri (this was formerly only Siri) then hit “join the waitlist”. You will be notified once the platform is ready for you to download.
We were fortunate enough to get Apple Intelligence on the iPhone in less than an hour.
Here's the most important point to remember: Apple says the platform is available “in most regions around the world” – but only as long as the language of your device and Siri are set to US English.
Next month, it will be available for localised English in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK, with more languages – Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese and others – coming in April.
For the EU, users can access Apple Intelligence (in US English) on their Macs with macOS Sequoia 15.1, with availability on iPhones and iPads coming in April.
New Macs launched
Meanwhile, Apple has also unveiled new generations of its Mac computers, running on the latest macOS Sequioa 15.1, which also has Apple Intelligence.
The latest iMac, Mac mini and MacBook Pro now come with Apple’s latest M4 chip. While all devices come with the base M4 chip, the Mac mini also has an M4 Pro option, while the MacBook Pro also comes with the M4 Pro and M4 Max.
Apple did not introduce a new MacBook Air. However, the company said that it is now doubling its base memory to 16GB at no additional cost.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs: 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS
Price: base / as tested: From Dh632,225
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 540hp @ 8,250rpm
Torque: 540Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L / 100km
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
