Apple has released the first betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, including support for Apple Intelligence for the first time. Surprisingly, Apple Intelligence is partially available in the Netherlands after all. Here’s what you need to know.
Apple Intelligence in the Netherlands
It is the big new feature of Apple’s new operating systems this year. With Apple Intelligence, all kinds of AI functions come to your iPhone, iPad and Mac. Entire websites are summarized, your texts are improved, you can create images and Siri also gets a makeover. Only two things were still unclear. First: when exactly will Apple Intelligence come to our devices, because in the iOS 18 betas the AI ​​suite was nowhere to be seen. And second: is Apple Intelligence even coming to the Netherlands? Because the company has quite a few problems with the Digital Markets Act of the EU.
We can now answer the first question with near certainty, and the second question is also at least clearer. iPhoned update you on how things are.
First Apple Intelligence Beta
As mentioned, Apple has now made the first beta of Apple Intelligence available in the test versions of iOS, iPadOS and macOS. But it is not the first, .0 version of iOS 18 and the like, but only the .1 version. That is the release that takes place right after the big launch in September. Usually that is in October. In short, that is the month that Apple Intelligence becomes available to the general public. At least, in a large part of the world and only if your device is set to English.
That leads us straight to the second question. Is Apple Intelligence coming to the Netherlands or not? The answer is yes and no. If you install the test version with Apple Intelligence on your iPhone or iPad now, it clearly states that the AI ​​functions are not available in China and the European Union. The latter is due to Apple’s problems with the EU’s DMA competition law. And indeed, after installation there are no AI functions, even if you adjust your language and region.
Now the most striking thing: the macOS release notes only state that Apple Intelligence is not available in China. If you set the language and region to ‘English (US)’ here, a new option ‘Apple Intelligence & Siri’ appears in System Settings. All writing tools are already available, only you cannot generate images yet.
Waiting for the EU
One thing is almost certain. Apple Intelligence is coming to the Mac in October and will also work in the Netherlands, provided you adjust the settings. For iOS and iPadOS, it is more nuanced. Apple Intelligence will also be rolled out for the mobile operating systems in October, but we do not yet know whether the EU will ultimately be included. Apple is still threatening not to bring the AI ​​functions to the EU, although there have been some positive developments recently around competition and AI between the US and the EU. So until the final release in October, we do not know anything 100% for sure. But iPhoned will keep you posted!
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