Apple’s unveiling of its Apple Intelligence AI features has sparked a wave of anticipation and excitement among tech enthusiasts, pundits, and Apple fans. The prospect of experiencing what Apple believes will be a game changer for the iPhone and its other product line-ups has left people eagerly waiting to get their hands on it.
Yet, Apple has chosen to keep the specifics of the rollout and availability of its new AI features shrouded in mystery. While there are speculations about a possible July launch coinciding with the public beta of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, the initial developer beta released today does not include any of these new Apple Intelligence features, adding to the intrigue.
Moreover, it seems that access might be restricted even when Apple Intelligence becomes available. In addition to hardware limitations restricting compatibility with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, a new barrier has emerged: a waitlist.
According to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris, references to a waitlist and a “limited preview” for Apple Intelligence were found within the iOS 18 code. This suggests that users with compatible iPhones may need to sign up and wait for Apple’s approval to experience and enjoy the new AI features.
If rumors are anything to go by, Apple may introduce Apple Intelligence during the iOS 18 beta launch later this summer. Therefore, the limited preview and waitlist might be part of the beta testing process. However, it is possible that a waitlist could still be in place when Apple Intelligence launches publicly with iOS 18, especially considering the demand-related issues other AI services like ChatGPT have experienced.
While Apple fans will need an iPhone 15 Pro or later to try Apple Intelligence’s features, it will also be available on all iPhone 16 models when it launches with iOS 18 installed.
The reasons behind this restricted rollout are unclear, as Apple has not officially confirmed the waitlist or provided details on its selection criteria or duration.
This approach has frustrated many potential users eager to explore Apple Intelligence’s capabilities on their new iPhones.
Those excited about Apple’s AI advancements remain in a holding pattern, awaiting further information and hoping for a swift invitation to experience Apple Intelligence firsthand.
Once Apple proceeds with the general release of iOS 18, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max versions and the new iPhone 16 series should have access to all of the Apple Intelligence features.
