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.
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
Kandahar%20
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Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
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Fixtures
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UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
The Breadwinner
Director: Nora Twomey
Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Laara Sadiq
Three stars
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
