Apple’s iOS 18.1 Beta Unveils Call Recording and Advanced AI Features

New Delhi: Apple’s iOS 18.1 developer beta introduces an exciting new feature: the ability to record and transcribe phone calls. Unveiled at June’s Worldwide Developers Conference, this update allows users to access the recording function via a new “record” button located at the top-left corner of the call screen. This feature is particularly beneficial for journalists conducting interviews over the phone and for anyone needing to keep a record of crucial conversations, such as those with healthcare professionals.

Once call recording is enabled, all parties on the call will receive a notification stating, “This call will be recorded.” The Phone app will then automatically capture the conversation and generate a transcription, which will be available in the Notes app. Users will also get an AI-generated summary of the call and the full audio recording within the Notes app, enhancing the feature’s practicality.

The iOS 18.1 beta also brings other advancements in Apple Intelligence, including a redesigned Siri, email summaries in the Mail app, and natural language search capabilities in Photos. These updates will initially be available only on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models. Apple has yet to announce the release date for the stable version of iOS 18.1, but it is expected to launch in October or early November.

For those eager to try these new features, the iOS 18.1 beta can be downloaded, although users should be aware that beta software may have bugs. It’s advisable to install the beta on a secondary device. Additionally, iPadOS 18.1, featuring similar updates, will be rolled out for iPads with M1 silicon or later in Q3 2024.