The second beta of iOS 18.2 has been released – Siri with ChatGPT Plus, improved Latitude and other changes

Apple has released iOS 18.2 beta 2 to developers with build number 22C5125e, but there is no official release date for the public beta yet. However, it is expected that the release of the first public beta could take place as early as this week. All devices compatible with iOS 18 support this update, but Apple Intelligence AI features remain exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models.

Image source: 9to5mac.com

One of the main innovations in Apple Intelligence was the introduction of ChatGPT to Siri, which appeared back in iOS 18.2 beta 1. Now in the Siri settings you can log into your ChatGPT account to take advantage of the ChatGPT Plus features, and with the release of the second beta version, you can subscribe to ChatGPT Plus directly in the device settings. A section added to the settings also allows you to track your current ChatGPT usage level and check how close the user is to the set limits.

The Notes app in iOS 18.2 beta 2 adds a new “Create Image” feature. When a user selects text in the app, a new Create Image option appears in the copy and paste context menu that pops up, which uses the Image Playground tool to create illustrations based on the selected context. This makes Notes a more versatile tool that combines text and visual content, making it especially useful for taking multimedia notes.

IOS 18.2 beta 2 also expands the functionality of the Find My service, allowing you to share the location of a lost device or item. Now you can create a link and give it to another person, who can track the location of the loss through a web browser, even if they do not have an Apple device. The company notes that this is especially convenient in cases where you need to convey information, for example, to airline employees or a trusted person. At the same time, access to the item’s location data is provided only for a limited time, which guarantees security and confidentiality.

In the Mail app, you can now limit the display of notification icons for unread messages in the Basic category, leaving other categories without notifications. This option is available through Settings and is integrated with the new Mail design in iOS 18.2, which allows you to sort emails into Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions categories. This innovation helps iPhone users focus on the messages that really matter.

Apple has updated the icon design in the Settings app, which now visually matches the color theme of the device’s home screen. All icons in the settings have a darker background, which makes the interface more cohesive and visually coherent. This is especially noticeable on iPhone 16 models, for which these changes have been optimized, giving the interface an aesthetic completeness.

Among the unique features of iOS 18.2 beta 2 for iPhone 16 owners, it is worth highlighting two key changes in camera control. First, the user can lock focus and exposure by lightly pressing the camera button until they press it all the way down or release their finger. This feature was announced at the iPhone 16 launch and is disabled by default, but can be enabled in the Settings app under Camera Control.

Во-вторых, в разделе «Настройки» (Settings) > «Доступность» (Accessibility) > «Camera Control now allows you to adjust the speed of double-clicking the camera control button: available options include Default, Slow, and Slower modes. These innovations allow iPhone users to more flexibly and precisely customize their photography experience.

In addition to major updates, iOS 18.2 beta 2 also brings additional improvements, such as the ability to “iPhone Mirroring” when the device is used as a hotspot for a Mac. New actions have been added to the Shortcuts app for the Fitness app. iPhone users in Utah have a new setting to manage web content restrictions for users under 17, which includes filtering adult content.

The release of iOS 18.2 beta 2 demonstrates Apple’s commitment to not only creating innovative, but also practically useful features. Integration with ChatGPT Plus, new Find My capabilities and improved camera controls highlight the company’s focus on continuously improving the user experience.