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Since the release of the iOS 18.2 Developer Beta a few weeks ago, I have been actively exploring Apple’s new Visual Intelligence feature. Initially, I believed it was just a gimmick, something fun to showcase to friends without any practical use. However, as time passed, I discovered numerous scenarios where it became incredibly useful. Here are some of the most effective ways to leverage Visual Intelligence, along with guidance on utilizing it on devices lacking Camera Control. Let’s dive in!

Don’t forget to watch our video below, which demonstrates these use cases, plus an additional five that you might find valuable.

Finally, a quick heads up: this feature is currently in developer and public beta as of the writing of this article. Therefore, if you’re on iOS 18.1, you won’t have access to it just yet. The public release of iOS 18.2 is expected in mid-December.

How to Activate Visual Intelligence

Interestingly, there are no specific settings for this feature. Upon updating to iOS 18.2, you’ll receive a prompt explaining how to enable it, and that’s all there is to it. This feature is primarily compatible with iPhone 16 models since it requires a Camera control button for activation. Simply long press the button, and you will be taken to Visual Intelligence.

1. Summarizing & Reading Books Aloud

One of the most impressive capabilities I’ve discovered is using Visual Intelligence to read text out loud, which is especially useful for books. In some cases, it might even serve as a substitute for audiobooks. The process is straightforward:

• Launch Visual Intelligence
• Point your phone at the text you’d like summarized or read aloud
• Your iPhone will recognize it as text and prompt you to summarize or read it aloud
• Select your preferred option
• Sit back and enjoy

As someone who benefits from both an audiobook and a physical copy to follow along, this feature is a game-changer. I can snap a picture of a single page and have Siri read it to me. Try it out with anything from contracts and instructions to books. It’s incredibly useful!

2. Reverse Google Image Search

A primary function of Visual Intelligence is its search capability. This feature has been available on other devices and apps for some time, so it’s fantastic to see it integrated into iOS. You can capture an image using Visual Intelligence and receive two options: Ask and Search. For reverse image searching, simply tap the Search option, and it will find similar items on Google. For instance, I took a photo of an iPhone, and it located nearby iPhones available for purchase. This function works for almost any object you capture!

3. ChatGPT Ask Feature

As mentioned, two main functions are consistently available when utilizing Visual Intelligence: Ask and Search. We’ve already discussed the Search feature, so what does Ask entail? This is where ChatGPT steps in. By capturing a Visual Intelligence image and selecting the Ask option, you’ll upload that image to ChatGPT for interpretation. It effectively analyzes nearly anything and astoundingly captures many small details accurately. However, it does tend to avoid mentioning specific copyright-protected intellectual properties like cartoon characters, offering descriptions without using their names instead.

4. Real-time Business Information

This feature brings an augmented reality experience to Visual Intelligence. You can point your visual intelligence camera at a business, and it will provide you with all the relevant information without needing to capture an image. For example, I aimed my camera at a local coffee shop, and it was recognized instantly. The Apple Maps listing appeared, along with options such as:

• Call
• Menu
• Order
• Hours
• Yelp Rating
• Images

This information is intelligently recognized, eliminating the need to navigate through menus. Just point your phone, and everything you need is right there.

5. Problem Solving

This is a feature I wish I had back in 2012 during my calculus classes. You can capture an image of any math problem using Visual Intelligence and then ask ChatGPT to solve it, providing you with the step-by-step solution. I recall struggling with geometry proofs and always having to show my work to arrive at a solution. Now, we can simply take a photo, and Siri handles the rest.

Final Thoughts

As mentioned, all these features are currently in beta, which means they’re continuously learning and improving over time. It’s remarkable that such functionality is now integrated into the native OS, eliminating the need for third-party applications to achieve these tasks. I’ve found myself using Visual Intelligence more frequently in both personal and professional contexts. The most astonishing part is that this is the baseline; it will only become better!

Don’t miss our video for even more use cases and to experience these new features in action. What are your thoughts on Visual Intelligence? Is it a tool you would use? Have you checked out the Beta on your devices? Let’s talk in the comments below!