We demonstrated Apple Intelligence. Here’s what new artificial intelligence tools can do

Apple’s new artificial intelligence tools are here. Now the company is trying to help customers understand them.

The Cupertino, California-based tech giant on Wednesday began offering 15-minute sessions to customers at its hundreds of U.S. retail stores on the company’s new suite of artificial intelligence tools called Apple Intelligence, which can help iPhone users compose emails faster, create new emojis, and remove their exes from photos.

Apple Intelligence is a key feature of Apple’s latest operating system that the company hopes will encourage more customers to upgrade and buy more devices. The new features have been prominently featured in iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro ads that have aired recently, including during the World Series.

AI tools have been available to the public for a long time, but putting them directly into the hands of loyal Apple users could significantly speed up mass adoption of the technology. But some users may have a hard time learning these features, so Apple Store employees are tasked with introducing them to customers.

The first set of new tools is available with the latest operating system update and works on iPhone 15 Pro, iPad A17 Pro or M1, Mac with M1, or newer models.

“One of the challenges with a new tool like Apple Intelligence is getting people to try it,” said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at consulting firm Enderle Group. “We tend to live by habit, and especially as we get older, we don’t bother with anything new and different. So getting people to use the tool becomes an important part of actually testing whether these tools are any good.”

Here are some key Apple Intelligence features demonstrated by The Times. The initiative is part of the tech giant’s Today at Apple workshop, which aims to educate Apple customers on how to navigate their devices.

Help with communication

New artificial intelligence tools can help iPhone, Mac and iPad users adjust and compose messages.

For example, an iPhone user planning a sushi party at home could print a few advertisements describing the time and location of the event, and Apple Intelligence would help create a full invitation.

Apple Intelligence can help change the tone of a message—whether the user wants it to be more friendly or professional.

The technology can also flag unanswered questions in an email, summarize notes, and prioritize notifications to users about urgent messages, such as the arrival of a delivery, so the note doesn’t get lost in their inbox.

Collecting memories, erasing exes

AI tools can help users better find specific photos in their libraries and create short videos to relive memories by typing in descriptions. For example, a mom could type “Hannah and her bunny through the years,” and the program would create a compilation of slideshows from her photo library with music.

Apple Intelligence also has a photo editing tool in the Photos app that allows users to remove unwanted objects or people in their photos by tapping, erasing, or tracing the image. People can remove selfie sticks, photobombers, or even your ex-boyfriend or girlfriend from a photo.

A smarter Siri?

With updated tools, Apple’s Siri voice command system will be able to better determine what a user is asking, even if they stumble over their words. Users can speak or enter questions to Siri.

For example, if someone tells Siri, “Set an alarm—oh, wait, no—set a timer for 10 minutes. Actually, I just thought about it, I could probably do it in five. Do it in five minutes,” – theoretically, the program will be able to understand what a tongue-tied person wanted to say.

Emoji on request

In December, Apple Intelligence will also allow users to create their own emoji to use as stickers or reactions in text messages. For example, users can enter a description such as “shrimp wearing a cowboy hat” and will receive the corresponding emoji to use in communication or to create emojis based on photos of their friends and family.

Other December updates include the ability to access ChatGPT via Siri.