Apple Intelligence is here with iOS 18.1, here is how you can get it early in India

Apple has finally rolled out the long-awaited Apple Intelligence with the iOS 18.1 update. This AI-powered suite brings intelligent upgrades for Apple devices, including iPhones, to help users streamline daily tasks, boost productivity, and enhance user experience, all while prioritising privacy. Although Apple Intelligence was highly anticipated, it is currently available only in limited languages, including U.S. English. This means that Indian users will officially see English (India) support in early 2025. Indian users, therefore, will need to wait a bit longer to experience the new features. Or wait—maybe not, as there’s a simple trick that allows you to use Apple Intelligence in India with a few easy settings tweaks.
To get Apple Intelligence in India, go to Settings > General > Language & Region and select English (U.S.) as your device’s primary language. This setting configures your device to recognise the language required for Apple Intelligence.
After changing the language, go to Settings > Apple Intelligence and Siri > Language and again choose English (U.S.) as the language for Siri and Apple Intelligence.
Once set, Apple will prompt you to join a waitlist to access Apple Intelligence. After joining, you’ll receive a notification within hours or days once Apple Intelligence’s local language model has been downloaded to your device. When it’s ready, you can begin using Apple’s suite of new AI features.
Apple Intelligence on iOS 18.1 introduces several new features designed to make everyday tasks easier and more efficient:
Writing Tools
This feature enables your iPhone or iPad to function as a writing assistant across apps like Mail, Messages, and Notes, as well as select third-party apps. It allows users to rewrite, proofread, and summarise text to improve clarity and choose tones, such as professional or friendly.
Siri with a new interface
This feature brings an updated interface and improved conversational abilities to Siri, allowing it to remember previous commands for smoother follow-up questions. Users can also switch easily between voice and text inputs. Siri works across all Apple devices, including CarPlay, for a more efficient hands-free experience.
Photos app enhancements
This update makes photo management and editing smarter. Users can search for specific moments using detailed descriptions, like “Lily at the beach in a red dress.” The Photos app also includes a Clean Up tool to remove unwanted objects or people from photos, and an upgraded Memories feature creates video stories from simple descriptions.
Notifications and Message organisation
This feature highlights important messages, such as event invitations and boarding passes, and provides notification summaries on the lock screen to help users manage distractions. It also summarises long email threads for quicker review and prioritises key messages for faster access.
Privacy in Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence is designed with privacy standards that process most data directly on the device. For complex tasks, Apple uses Private Cloud Compute, anonymizing data and ensuring no storage, with third-party security reviews for added safety. ChatGPT integration in Siri and Writing Tools extends Siri’s functionality while maintaining privacy standards.