Apple Launches iOS 18.1 Beta 1 to Test AI Features, Excludes China Mainland iPhones

Today, Apple released the iOS 18.1 Beta 1 version to developers, focusing on updates to Apple's artificial intelligence services. However, due to development timelines, most services mentioned at WWDC 2024, like Siri's integration with ChatGPT, are not yet supported.

The update also specifies that Apple Intelligence features are not available in the European Union and China markets. Notably, features are even restricted by serial numbers, meaning that iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models distributed in the China mainland market cannot activate Apple Intelligence, even if used in other countries or regions.

Currently, the Apple Intelligence is only supported on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as iPads and Macs equipped with the M1+ chip. Devices without the M series chip do not support this feature.

Developers who have upgraded to iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 need to enter settings to register for Apple Intelligence candidacy. After registration, the system will download necessary artificial intelligence files to complete the update.

According to previous reports, the AI-equipped iOS 18.1 is expected to be released in the spring of 2025. Apple has already completed the development of iOS 18.0, which will be officially launched at Apple's autumn event in September. The software engineering team's main task during this period is to develop new features for iOS 18.1, especially testing and perfecting AI-related functionalities for a spring release next year.

Lastly, as the iOS Beta version is a test edition, it may contain some unknown issues. If you wish to upgrade to the Beta version, it is recommended to fully back up your iPhone beforehand, allowing a rollback to an older version if necessary.