Apple to roll-out ChatGPT to Siri with iOS 18.2, offer option to upgrade to ChatGPT Plus

Apple has released the second beta of iOS 18.2 for developers, in which the company has brought several enhancements to Siri, the most notable of which is the integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. iOS 18.2 Developer Beta 2 was rolled out on Monday, bringing the OS to older iPhone models including the iPhone XR and iPhone XS.

With iOS 18.2, Apple Intelligence – Apple’s suite of AI-powered tools and services (like advanced writing tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, and more) – has been made available on more models of iPhone. The integration of ChatGPIT with Siri is a part of this update, which brings upgrades to Siri’s existing capabilities. With this, Siri will be able to respond in a more natural, contextually relevant manner, moving away from the traditional, keyword-driven interactions provided by digital assistants. Developers who have access to the beta version will find a new section within the iOS Settings app that manages their use of ChatGPT.

Speaking of ChatGPIT, Apple previously announced that users will be able to access the chatbot for free through Apple Intelligence. This is still in place, although if you want to access more advanced functionalities, you will have to pay to gain continued access. There is a limit for users of the free tier regarding the use of the advanced capabilities offered by the AI ​​chatbot – a daily limit. When you are under the limit, you will have access to advanced capabilities for select requests/signals, after which you will have to pay to continue accessing them or be content using the basic version of ChatGPT.

This is no surprise, given that OpenAI – which gave us ChatGPT – has done something similar, and hidden its more advanced features (and more powerful models) behind a paywall. Apple has taken a page out of its book, and will make ChatGPT Plus available on iOS 18.2 for $19.99 per month. Users who are willing to pay will have access to more powerful GPT-4o models and higher limits on messages. Additional features will also be available, including access to advanced voice modes, support for image and file uploads, early access to new features, and more. If you have the ChatGPT Plus plan, you can simply sign in to your account. Free access to GPT-4o requests resets every 24 hours.

Additionally, the iOS 18.2 beta includes several other enhancements, such as updates to camera controls and improvements to the Find My app. Camera controls will now come with more precise adjustments (which will be beneficial for photography enthusiasts). Users will need to enable the feature by going into the camera app’s settings, after which they can lightly press and hold the camera controls to lock both focus and exposure. Improvements to Find My will now allow users to better track lost items by sharing the location of their device or the lost item. If another user finds the item, they can visit the app to visit a new section – Show Contact Information – to get the contact details of the owner of the device or item.