When Apple introduced Apple Intelligence in June 2024, everyone thought that the Cupertino tech giant had finally entered the AI race. Being a long-time Apple user and loyal superfan, I was also excited about Apple’s personalized AI system. I found it interesting mainly because of its privacy-centric approach and plethora of tasks designed to help users in their daily tasks. However, this excitement turned into disappointment in no time. The staggered rollout, longer wait times, missing features, and half-baked additions have turned Apple Intelligence into a disaster so far.
That said, Apple has added some genuinely useful features buried under these rough edges. I have been using Apple Intelligence features for quite some time now. There are some practical upgrades and brilliant features that can make our Apple devices a lot smarter.
Works better than some big names
If there’s one Apple Intelligence feature that works flawlessly, it has to be Writing Tools. The best thing about this feature is how deeply and seamlessly Apple has integrated it into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. These tools appear in almost every place that you write, including Notes, Pages, Mail, and even third-party websites and apps. This deep integration gives you the freedom to access Writing Tools without switching between apps. You can use them to proofread, rewrite, summarize, and organize your text.
Compared to third-party AI tools like Grammarly and ChatGPT, Apple’s Writing Tools are simple, easy to use, and do not over-fluff your writing. I like the fact that they naturally follow your context and reshape what you’ve already written, and do not force a standard format. I’ve used Writing Tools to proofread my text, and it has worked great every time. I’ve also noticed that when I use Apple’s Writing Tools to rewrite and summarize text, the results sound more natural than those from competitors. This is a classic example that Apple prioritizes productivity and simplicity over flashy demos.
Add to Calendar
The best Apple-like automation yet
Apple Intelligence feels underwhelming compared to big names like Google Gemini or ChatGPT, but it can do some clever things for you. With iOS 26, Apple added a brilliant AI feature that lets you create a Calendar event with a single screenshot. Unarguably, this is one of the best Apple Intelligence features so far. If you’ve got a Visual Intelligence-compatible iPhone (iPhone 16 Pro or newer), it can recognize when you’re looking at an event and suggest adding it to your calendar. All you have to do is take a screenshot, and Apple Intelligence automatically fetches relevant details like date, time, and location to create an event for you.
If you maintain a calendar, this feature can help you save a lot of time. Also, if you’re someone like me who often puts the wrong events at the wrong dates (yes, I’m bad at maintaining my calendar), the Add to Calendar feature is going to be your savior. You don’t need to copy and paste anything or enter details manually. Apple Intelligence will even catch smaller details that you might have missed.
Live Translation
A smarter way to cut language barriers
When Apple announced iOS 18 and AI features, most of the users were waiting for a major Siri rebrand. More than Apple Intelligence features, people were actually excited for a full-blown Siri 2.0, which Apple never introduced. And this was one of the major reasons why people call Apple Intelligence a disappointment. That said, there’s a key Siri and Apple Intelligence feature that impressed me: Live Translation. This AI-powered addition can translate your messages, phone calls, FaceTime, and even face-to-face conversations in real time. It’s like carrying a personal translator in your pocket.
Sure, every device has a translation app, but Apple’s Live Translation feels different. It’s a smarter and privacy-focused option that breaks down language barriers. It bridges the language gap when you’re traveling to a new city or sitting with a client who speaks a different language. It can handle everyday phrases and expressions pretty well. So, those conversions and pauses feel human, and not robotic. The Live Translation feature gives us a glimpse at what Apple’s on-device intelligence is capable of.
Priority Notifications
Lessens your notifications overload
If you keep an eye on all your notifications just to make sure that you don’t miss the important ones, you have to try this Apple Intelligence feature. I’m talking about Priority Notifications, which is unquestionably one of the most useful and underrated Apple Intelligence features that deserve your attention. It uses on-device intelligence to identify incoming notifications and show time-sensitive alerts at the top of your Notifications Center.
When you enable this feature, your iPhone’s Lock Screen will look cleaner and more organized. Random sale alerts or game updates that you’ve never even looked at will have lower priority. Rather, you will find all your important messages, like meeting reminders or an urgent message from your sibling, right at the top. This makes it easier for you to focus on what really matters.
4 Apps I Use to Get Apple Intelligence Features on my Older iPhone
You don’t have to upgrade just yet.
Reduce interruptions in Focus Mode
A small feature with a big impact
Apple packed a ton of big and shiny AI tools like Image Playground and Genmoji, but there is a smaller addition that delivers everyday value. The new Reduce Interruptions in Focus Mode intelligently filters incoming notifications. Rather than bombarding you with endless alerts, Reduce Interruptions understands context and surfaces only notifications that actually deserve your attention. For instance, you will see your upcoming doctor’s appointment, early delivery, or other notifications that need immediate action. You won’t receive any unnecessary alerts like social media updates.
This will give you more headspace, more control over your notifications, and fewer distractions. Plus, you will have peace of mind that you’ll always be alerted if anything is urgent. The best part is there’s no complicated setup or learning curve. You just have to set it once, and it will keep working for you in the background. Whether you’re trying to concentrate on your studies, working on your Mac, or simply trying to reclaim a little peace, Reduce Interruptions can offer great help.
What Apple needs to fix next
There’s no doubt that Apple Intelligence isn’t living up to its hype. If Apple wants to win users’ trust again, it needs to turn the long-standing promises into reality. It should introduce a revamped Siri, make all the previewed features available in more regions, and make its AI system snappier. If these basics are sorted, Apple Intelligence could become the AI assistant Apple wanted it to be. As of now, the above 5 features showcase Apple’s brilliance served in a messy launch.