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iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence: New AI Features Expected to Arrive Alongside the iPhone 17 Series Launch

iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence: New AI Features Expected to Arrive Alongside the iPhone 17 Series Launch

The iOS 26 update and the new Apple Intelligence features could be rolled out once the iPhone 17 series goes on sale.

Written by Akash Dutta, Edited by David Delima | Updated: 3 September 2025 13:09 IST

iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence: New AI Features Expected to Arrive Alongside the iPhone 17 Series Launch

Photo Credit: Apple

The iPhone 17 series is expected to be launched on September 9 at Apple’s Awe Dropping event

Highlights

iOS 26 beta comes with a Live Translation feature for calls and FaceTime
Apple is integrating ChatGPT into Image Playground
The Messages app is getting a natural language search feature

Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of artificial intelligence (AI) features, is set to get new features and upgrades to existing features once the iOS 26 update is released. Based on past trends, the Cupertino-based tech giant is expected to release the stable version of the operating system the same month as the launch of its new iPhone lineup. With the 'Awe Dropping' event taking place on September 9, users with a compatible device might get to use the new AI features before the end of the month.

Based on the public beta releases so far, we have a fair idea about the new AI features the company is planning to bring to its smartphones this month. Of course, there is a possibility that Apple is planning a few surprises for its iPhone 17 series launch event. But not counting them, the new features and upgrades still run into double digits. Let's take a look at what Apple Intelligence might be bringing with the iOS 26 update.

Apple Intelligence Features Arriving With iOS 26

With the upcoming iOS 26 update, Apple has taken a utilitarian approach, focusing on AI features that can be useful to users, instead of novelty features such as Genmoji and Image Playground. One big focus area for the tech giant seems to be communication.

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iOS 26 is expected to bring Live Translation for Messages, which allows two-way translation of messages in supported languages. A Messages poll suggestion feature is also expected to be added, which shows suggestions to create polls based on conversations in groups.

The Messages app is also expected to get a new Conversation backgrounds feature, which utilises Image Playground to create custom images for conversation backgrounds. Additionally, Apple is also adding a natural language search feature in Messages, that allows users to find messages, photos, and URLs.

FaceTime and the Phone app can also get a new Live Translation feature for calls with iOS 26, which will allow users to receive transcribed or spoken translation during calls. Additionally, Apple can also offer AI-generated voicemail summaries.

Apple Rolls Out iOS 26 Beta 9 for iPhone Ahead of iPhone 17 Launch

Coming to other apps, Apple Maps is expected to get a reimagined search system with the upcoming update that will allow users to make natural language queries while looking up locations, landmarks, and more. Apple Intelligence is also expected to be integrated with the Shortcuts app, and users can use nine different actions, such as choosing AI models, opening Visual Intelligence, creating images, and more, while creating a new shortcut.

The Reminders app is also expected to get a couple of new AI features. First is Suggestions, which shows reminders that a user can create based on content from their emails, websites they visit, or notes. The second feature uses AI to automatically categorise different reminders. Apart from this, Apple Wallet is also expected to get a new feature that uses AI to show order tracking information from emails. The feature also supports Amazon purchases.

There is also a feature that users might not get access to immediately, but might soon see in the third-party apps they use. Apple is making its third-party Foundation models available to all developers, who can now use its capability to build new features in existing apps or create new AI apps from scratch.

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iOS 26 Brings Improvements to Genmoji and Image Playground

Apple is also expected to upgrade Genmoji and Image Playground with new capabilities. With iOS 26, Image Playground can use ChatGPT's models to generate images. Users might be able to change facial expressions as well as personal attributes in images generated using the Apple Intelligence tool. Genmoji is also expected to offer a feature that allows users to mix two emojis to create a new one.

Finally, the iPhone maker is also expected to integrate ChatGPT in Visual Intelligence, allowing users to ask the OpenAI chatbot about screenshots. While not exactly a feature, Apple is also expected to bring the AI-powered Adaptive Power mode that optimises the device for a longer battery life.

Notably, not all iPhone models are compatible with Apple Intelligence. Currently, the feature is available with the iPhone 15 Pro models, the entire iPhone 16 lineup, including the iPhone 16e, and is expected to be available across the iPhone 17 series.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A17 Pro

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

iPhone 16

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A18

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 18

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Apple iPhone 16e

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Light and compact design
Powerful Apple A18 SoC
Customisable Action Button
Good battery life

Bad
Low light camera performance is below average
Available in just two basic finishes
Large display notch with thick borders
60Hz refresh rate display
Slow wireless and wired charging

Read detailed Apple iPhone 16e review

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A18

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 18

Resolution 1170x2532 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

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Further reading: Apple Intelligence, iOS 26, Apple, AI, Artificial Intelligence, iPhone

Akash Dutta Email Akash Dutta

Akash Dutta is a Chief Sub Editor at Gadgets 360. He is particularly interested in the social impact of technological developments and loves reading about emerging fields such as AI, metaverse, and fediverse. In his free time, he can be seen supporting his favourite football club - Chelsea, watching movies and anime, and sharing passionate opinions on food. More