iOS 18.3 Beta 3 Updates and Features: Spotlight on the Notification Summary [Video]

Apple has released iOS 18.3 beta 3, just two days after similar beta versions were made available for watchOS and tvOS. The delay likely stemmed from Apple’s efforts to improve the Notification Summary feature across iOS, which utilizes Apple Intelligence. This update follows several notable instances where AI-generated summaries led to inaccurate or misleading headlines from reputable sources, including BBC News.

Highlighting the severity of the inaccuracies, Apple has implemented notable updates to the operation and presentation of these summaries. For a detailed overview, check out our explainer video, and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more updates.

Problems with Notification Summaries

As part of the iOS 18.1 rollout, which introduced phase one of Apple Intelligence, the Notification Summaries feature was made available. The purpose of Notification Summaries is to effectively encapsulate multiple notifications from a single source into a concise and digestible alert. Frequently, these summaries serve as useful tools that accurately reflect the full contents of the notifications.

Video Overview

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As is often the case with AI technologies, mistakes can occur. Summarized messages from friends or family might be inaccurate yet humorous; however, misleading notifications from news outlets present a much graver issue.

For instance, BBC News experienced a troubling situation where the Apple Intelligence-powered summary feature generated a grossly inaccurate notification:

This poses a serious problem and has the potential to harm the reputation of the original source. Needless to say, BBC News expressed its displeasure and addressed the misleading summary with Apple. It is worth noting that BBC News did not disclose the original headlines that contributed to the creation of this summary, but they were significantly different from what the AI produced.

This isn’t an isolated incident, and it likely won’t be the last. Nonetheless, Apple has taken steps, as promised weeks prior, to mitigate future issues.

Explicit beta status indication

Apple is keen to inform users that Notification Summaries remain a beta feature. While this may have been unclear in earlier iOS versions, all features utilizing Apple Intelligence are in beta. In the latest iOS 18.3 beta, Apple has made this distinction more transparent.

A Caution

The beta status of Apple Intelligence is not only clearer, but iOS 18.3 will also alert users that these notification summaries “may contain errors.” Increasing public awareness of AI-generated headlines’ limitations is certainly beneficial.

Enhanced control over disabling notification summaries

Furthermore, Apple is providing users enhanced control to disable summaries for individual apps directly. This has always been possible through Settings → Notifications, but now users can do this directly from the Notification Center or the Lock Screen by swiping left on the notification → Options → Turn Off Summaries.

Italicized Summaries

Simplifying matters, summaries appearing on the Lock Screen will now be presented in italicized text. While this may seem like a minor adjustment, it will provide a quick distinction that the displayed content is AI-generated, setting it apart from standard notifications.

Temporarily Suspended Categories

Summaries produced from apps within the News & Entertainment category, such as The BBC, are likely to cause the most significant issues. As a result, summaries for apps in this category will be indefinitely disabled. Apple has noted that a forthcoming software update will reinstate summaries for these apps once they refine the overall experience.

Additional Features

Aside from the changes previously outlined, there are no significant new features in iOS 18.3 beta 3. However, one new component we’ve noticed is the AXFeatureOverrideServer, which appears to allow users to temporarily enable or disable accessibility features. This could either be a developer tool or a sign of upcoming enhancements to iOS accessibility.

In my last iOS Decoded entry on iOS 18.3 beta 2, I covered various new background changes hinting at upcoming features. Be sure to catch that full episode below.

DMN’s Perspective

I’ve utilized Notification Summaries since their inception and they’ve rapidly become one of my favorite features of Apple Intelligence. However, many, including myself, perceived this feature as a potential issue due to the risk of misinformation. I’ve encountered many amusing summaries that completely distort the context of the actual notifications. While this may be entertaining when it involves friends, it’s a serious concern when it affects news organizations and millions of viewers.

It is commendable that Apple is taking action, though this seems like a miscalculation that was likely to occur.

What are your thoughts? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below.