In addition to the requisite security updates, Apple is introducing some day-to-day improvements with its new iOS 18.3. These mainly involve Apple Intelligence, now activated by default for the first time. Users that don’t want features such as ChatGPT Siri integration or Image Playground will have to disable them. Apple Intelligence notification summaries now appear in italicized print to stand out more. Apple at one point temporarily paused the AI summaries due to complaints over inaccurate information. Visual Intelligence can now provide information about animals and plants, and add data containing dates from pictures directly to a calendar.

TechRadar says that in the world of Apple software updates, iOS 18.3 “stands as a smaller one that does more work under the hood rather than providing flashy new features,” but appreciates the functionality of the upgrades.

Considering Visual Intelligence is “similar to Google Lens and other apps, including ChatGPT’s iOS app, which has become more multi-modal, Apple is certainly looking to improve the experience continuously,” writes TechRadar, reminding readers that “these are all still in beta,” including Apple Intelligence.

When Notification Summaries are enabled, they’ll now appear in italicized print, to emphasize that they’re created by AI. Ars Technica reminds readers that the news and entertainment category notifications have been reined back “in light of criticisms by the BBC and others about how the feature was getting the substance of headlines wrong.”

“Turning the feature off for news entirely shows that Apple is making some more tweaks under the hood and will likely reenable this when it feels the feature is ready for prime time,” TechRadar adds.

CNET details how to adjust Notification Summaries, explaining that Apple introduced them with iOS 18 “to provide a quick way to glance at important information from your apps.” The summaries will recap multiple notifications “into a short sentence or two, so that you don’t have to read each individual notification.”

Those already running iOS 18.1 or iOS 18.2 will find Apple Intelligence automatically enabled in iOS 18.3. It can be turned off in settings.

“The same switch-on occurs with macOS Sequoia 15.3 and iPadOS 18.3,” TechRadar writes, adding that Apple also issued updates for watchOS 11.3, Apple Vision Pro, HomePod and HomePod mini, and Apple TV 4K, “so now is a good time to check for updates.”

“On the macOS side, Macs now have access to Genmoji, a tool for creating emojis from text prompts,” Ars Technica informs.

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iOS 18.3 Adds Starlink Support to T-Mobile iPhones, Mac Rumors, 1/28/25