"Notification summaries are my favorite feature of Apple Intelligence."

Apple Intelligence is positioning itself as one of the most useful artificial intelligence tools available today. While the magic capabilities of generative AI are impressive, its daily use is not always as practical. What is truly effective about AI is its ability to facilitate everyday tasks, and in this regard, Apple Intelligence's Notification Summary feature has transformed the way I manage hundreds of daily notifications.

Why are Notification Summaries so Useful?

For many, receiving notifications from countless apps can be overwhelming. In my case, I have over 100 apps installed on my iPhone 16 Pro, resulting in a constant flow of alerts. While there are important notifications, such as bank messages or crucial emails, it’s often easy to overlook some relevant message. This is where Notification Summaries play a crucial role. They allow for efficient information condensation, making it easier to retrieve forgotten emails or follow up on message threads.

Moreover, for those who maintain news apps, Summaries help filter out unwanted content and focus solely on what truly matters.

Experience with Notification Summaries

I have been using the iOS 18.1 developer beta for several months, which has allowed me to experience Apple Intelligence thoroughly. Since incorporating this tool, I have replaced the manual review of each notification, which often overwhelmed me with the volume of information I receive. Now, I trust Apple Intelligence to summarize these notifications, allowing me to prioritize and not miss important alerts.

Effectiveness on the Apple Watch

Notification Summaries are not limited to the iPhone; they are also available on other Apple devices, including the Apple Watch. Despite the physical limitations of the device, this feature has proven to be extremely effective. By providing context about the notifications, it becomes much easier to decide which actions to take. Images and usage examples clearly demonstrate the utility of this feature compared to conventional notification management.

Current State of Apple Intelligence

While the potential of Apple Intelligence is evident, it's important to remember that it is still in beta phase. Some features may not function as expected and minor bugs have been reported. The functionalities showcased in previous events are not yet fully implemented, and the new version of Siri still makes common errors.

Future Availability

Apple Intelligence is expected to launch in late October 2024 in the United States, and in other countries by the end of the same year. The initial rollout will include some features, with promises of more updates in the following six months. This service will be exclusive to the latest Apple models, limited to the four iPhone 16 variants and last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models.

However, if you are a Mac or iPad user, Apple Intelligence should function on any device with an M-series chipset, excluding older and more basic models.