Apple Intelligence debuted at WWDC about nine months ago, gradually rolling out its features. One of the final additions from that initial set—Priority Notifications—has now arrived in iOS 18.4, and it’s undoubtedly one of Apple’s best enhancements.
A standout AI feature in iOS 18
There are numerous functionalities encompassed within the term ‘Apple Intelligence.’
Examples include AI-driven image creation, writing assistance, camera features utilizing visual intelligence, upgrades to the Photos app, changes to Siri, and much more.
Personally, I’ve found two features particularly beneficial:
ChatGPT alleviates the frustration of recent Siri delays, and notification summaries significantly enhance the user experience of one of the iPhone’s essential functions.
Despite some backlash around notification summaries, I still consider them one of the most impressive AI features introduced so far.
The new Priority Notifications feature in iOS 18.4 is equally engaging for several of the same reasons.
This feature provides a fresh capability for your iPhone with iOS 18.4. It handles a straightforward yet powerful task.
Understanding Priority Notifications in iOS 18.4
This is how Apple describes the functionality of Priority Notifications:
Apple Intelligence can display notifications that may be significant in a dedicated section on the Lock Screen, making it easier to catch up on missed alerts. You can still swipe up to see all notifications.
Essentially, your iPhone leverages on-device processing to evaluate the perceived importance of each notification.
If a notification is deemed significant, it will be highlighted prominently in a new Priority Notifications section on your Lock Screen.
Your other notifications remain accessible but are positioned below those identified as important by the AI.
You can activate or deactivate this feature by going to Settings ⇾ Notifications ⇾ Prioritize Notifications. Additionally, you can individually disable it for certain apps.
This manual control is a thoughtful addition, allowing you not to depend solely on Apple Intelligence to determine what matters to you. You can make your own decisions.
Many people receive an overwhelming number of notifications yet hesitate to disable them for specific apps. Alternatively, some users desire notifications from certain apps but wish to prioritize only the essential ones.
With iOS 18.4, Apple Intelligence enriches your experience by helping you stay in touch with what truly matters.
Are you interested in using the Priority Notifications feature in iOS 18.4? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
