Apple is considering integrating AI into iOS 18, as per reports from AppleInsider. The company is currently testing various enhancements for the mobile Safari browser, including updates to its user interface, advanced content blocking capabilities, and a feature named Intelligent Search, which would utilize AI.
Additionally, a potential new AI feature might involve summarizing website content directly within the browser. Apple intends to power the summarization feature with its on-device Ajax large language model (LLM).
By utilizing on-device AI rather than relying on a cloud-based server, users can expect quicker responses without compromising their privacy. This functionality will involve analyzing the text on a website to extract key points, presenting users with a concise summary of the content’s main message.
Safari users may soon have access to a “web eraser” feature, enabling them to selectively remove elements from the websites they visit, such as text, images, and ad banners. This functionality might extend to remembering user preferences, allowing selected sections to remain hidden across different websites, even if the browser is closed or the original site is left.
To indicate that a website has been modified, Safari may display a badge or notification. Additionally, users will have the option to revert to viewing the original, unaltered version of the website. Expanding on its capabilities, an AI upgrade could empower Safari and various other apps to recognize consumer products, augmenting the functionality of Visual Look Up and integrating it into additional system apps.
Presently, Visual Look Up can identify pets, popular landmarks, and plants through images in the Photos app. If these reports are accurate, the upgraded Visual Look Up is anticipated to debut on the iPhone in 2025, providing users with product names. Furthermore, it could potentially furnish users with details on where to purchase the identified product and its associated cost. While currently confined to Safari, Apple may broaden the reach of Visual Look Up to encompass other applications in the future.
