The five most exciting changes coming in Apple’s major iPhone update

Apple’s new iOS update is just a few weeks away — and more details are starting to emerge about what’s shaping up to be the biggest update yet.

Originally announced at the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, the software is expected to arrive on devices in mid-September.

Apple is touting its AI integration with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia — called “Apple Intelligence” — as the update’s flagship feature.

This feature will bring many changes to the operating system, including new and improved Siri features, the ability to create custom emojis, and much more.

But the change that’s made the most headlines is a new app-hiding feature dubbed “cheater’s paradise” because it lets users hide certain apps (like dating apps, for example) in locked folders.

iOS 18 will also bring many new features, such as smart writing tools, custom image generation, and improved privacy protection.

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If you’re overwhelmed by the wave of changes coming to your device this fall, here’s DailyMail.com’s list of the five most exciting features to look out for.

1. AI-powered Siri

Apple’s new AI system will affect virtually every aspect of the operating system, including Siri, Apple’s arguably underperforming digital assistant.

Siri’s critics have lamented its limited capabilities and frequent misunderstanding of voice commands. But that should change with Apple Intelligence.

“With the power of Apple Intelligence, Siri takes a big leap forward, becoming even more natural, contextually relevant, and personal,” Apple explained.

Users will be able to speak to Siri more naturally thanks to its new AI-enhanced language understanding capabilities.

They will also have the option to tap on Siri instead of relying on voice commands.

Siri will also get a new feature that understands the unique way you use your phone. Additionally, Siri will now have “on-screen awareness,” allowing it to access information on your phone and perform tasks within and across apps.

Additionally, Siri will have a deeper understanding of your phone’s features and settings, meaning it will be able to explain different functions by checking what’s on your screen for more context.

2. “Genmojis”

Ever wanted to create your own emojis? Thanks to Apple’s new “Genmoji” feature, you can now!

“Taking emoji to a whole new level, users can create original Genmoji to express themselves,” Apple said.

Genmoji allows users to create custom emojis using AI. Simply enter a description of the emoji you want to create and Genmoji will quickly generate it for you.

Users will even be able to create Genmoji of their friends and family using a photo of them, Apple said.

Just like regular emoji, Genmoji can be added inline to text, or shared as a sticker or reaction in a Tapback.

At WWDC, Apple showed off a preview of some of the Genmoji users will be able to create.

Some of the craziest include a surfing T-Rex wearing a tutu and an angry slice of cake. What crazy Genmojis will you create?

3. “Press to cash”

The update will also include a convenient new way to send money to other iPhone users.

The new feature, called “Tap to Cash,” lets users send and receive Apple Money by simply holding two iPhones close together.

This would simplify digital payments by eliminating the need to share phone numbers or email addresses to complete a transaction.

This could be particularly useful for paying someone back at a dinner party or buying something at a yard sale, Apple said.

In theory, Tap to Cash will provide a simpler peer-to-peer payment system compared to major P2P apps like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App.

Additionally, Apple doesn’t keep a percentage of your Tap to Cash or Tap to Pay transactions, unlike some other services that change fees.

But it remains to be seen whether Apple’s new feature will encroach on these payment services.

Speaking at WWDC, Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, said Apple is “continuing its journey to replace your physical wallet.”

The feature will be available to iPhone users running iOS 18 and Apple Watch users with WatchOS 11.

4. Hidden applications

Have an app on your phone that you’d rather keep private? In iOS 18, users will be able to hide or lock certain apps on their phone.

Locked apps will still appear on your home screen, but can only be opened with Face ID. If someone gains access to your phone, they won’t be able to access all of your private information.

And if you’re looking for even more security, you can “hide” an app by moving it to a locked folder. Anyone who accesses your phone won’t even be able to see the apps in the folder.

Content from a locked app, like messages, emails, or notifications, won’t even appear using the search feature. You can only access it using Face ID.

Apple says the purpose of the feature is to “provide users with peace of mind” that the information “will not be inadvertently viewed by others,” but not everyone sees it that way.

On social media, some users have expressed concerns about the feature’s potential to encourage infidelity in relationships, going so far as to call it a “cheat’s paradise.”

5. GPT Chat Integration

If the integration of Apple Intelligence has you craving even more generative AI features, iOS 18 has you covered.

This update will also include integration with Chat GPT, OpenAI’s chatbot and virtual assistant.

Siri will be able to access Chat GPT to answer questions. But users will need to give consent before questions, documents or photos are sent to the chatbot.

Chat GPT will also be available in Apple’s writing tools to help users generate written content on any topic. Apple will also roll out Compose, its image generator based on Chat GPT.

Users who might be concerned about privacy when using Chat GPT’s built-in features can rest assured that their IP addresses will be masked and that OpenAI will not store requests, Apple said.