The public launch of iOS 18.3 is just around the corner, introducing new features for Camera Control, enhancements powered by AI, and various bug fixes. Notably, this update will be one of the few that will temporarily remove an existing feature from the iPhone.
One of the most praised features of Apple Intelligence has also sparked significant debate
Apple Intelligence made its debut last October with iOS 18.1, and one of its standout functionalities was the notification summaries.
I quickly came to regard notification summaries as one of the most beneficial AI enhancements.
When functioning optimally, these summaries improve the informational value and accessibility of notifications.
However, they can sometimes contain inaccuracies, which is somewhat expected since Apple Intelligence is still evolving; nonetheless, it remains a concern.
This is where the changes in iOS 18.3 come into play.
iOS 18.3 suspends notification summaries for News & Entertainment applications
Apple is implementing several modifications to notification summaries, including:
- Using italics in AI-generated notifications to clearly indicate that you’re viewing a summary.
- A new feature allowing you to turn off summaries for an app directly from the notification (swipe left, select ‘Options,’ then ‘Turn Off Summaries’).
- Additional wording highlighting that the feature is still in beta and may have errors.
Moreover, in iOS 18.3, Apple is temporarily disabling summaries for specific applications entirely.
Notification summaries will no longer be available for News & Entertainment applications.
If you navigate to Settings ⇾ Notifications ⇾ Summarize Notifications on an iPhone with iOS 18.3, you’ll notice certain apps marked as ‘Temporarily Unavailable’.
Apple intends to restore summaries for these categories of apps in a future software update, but they are committed to refining the feature to ensure accuracy before doing so.
iOS 18.3 disabled feature: Summary
I wholeheartedly support Apple’s decision on this matter.
I previously discussed how summarizing notifications from news apps is particularly challenging, as it involves condensing something that is already a summary—the news headline.
Implementing UI changes to better indicate when users are seeing an AI-generated summary is a positive step. However, the core issue lies in the accuracy of these summaries, and hopefully Apple will make the necessary adjustments to re-enable summaries for News & Entertainment applications soon.
What are your thoughts on Apple’s approach to notification summaries in iOS 18.3? Share your views in the comments.
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