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When comparing the latest updates across Apple devices, iPadOS 18 seems to be missing out on some exclusive Apple Intelligence features found in macOS Sequoia and iOS 18. While this might be disappointing for those using the best iPads with M-series chips, it doesn’t mean the existing features aren’t useful. Let’s dive into what makes iPadOS 18 special, particularly for writers.
Main Apple Intelligence Features
Apple lists three primary Apple Intelligence features for iPad on its website: Writing Tools, image generation, and a smarter Siri. Unfortunately, the image generation feature isn’t available to try yet. Siri, while improved, isn’t something I would use frequently. That leaves us with Writing Tools, which has quickly become my favorite feature of iPadOS 18.
Why Writing Tools is a Standout Feature
(Image credit: Apple)
Writing Tools is designed to enhance your writing. It can proofread, rewrite, and even change the tone of your text. Whether you want your writing to sound friendly, professional, or concise, Writing Tools has you covered. If you don’t like the changes made, you can easily revert them. This kind of functionality is common in AI programs like ChatGPT, but having it built directly into iPadOS 18 is a big win.
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How Writing Tools Can Inspire You
Besides cleaning up your work, Writing Tools can also serve as a source of inspiration. By comparing your original text to the tool’s revision, you may discover new ideas or angles you hadn’t considered. This way, the tool acts more like an editor providing advice rather than just a fixer of mistakes.
I’m currently working on several manuscripts and am eager to see how Writing Tools can assist me with my prose writing. The best part is that I can use this tool locally on my device instead of through the cloud, meaning I don’t have to worry about other programs like ChatGPT stealing my ideas!
Additional Features
Other features in the Writing Tools suite include Summary, Key Points, List, and Table. Summary and Key Points are useful for going through large text blocks to extract the most important information. List and Table can itemize key points effectively.
(Image credit: Apple/Bandai Namco)
While these features work as intended, summarizing and detailing emails, for example, they often don’t provide as much information as I’d like. Hopefully, Apple will allow users to adjust the level of summarization in a future update.
Compatibility and Limitations
It’s important to note that Writing Tools doesn’t work across all apps yet. For instance, I can see the “Writing Tools” option when highlighting text in Gmail, but not in Google Docs. Since this is a beta version, I hope this issue will be resolved soon, especially since I use Google Docs for both work and personal projects.
Outlook
Apple Intelligence’s Writing Tools isn’t fundamentally different from other AI text generators. However, its local functionality on your Apple device makes it incredibly convenient. You don’t need to visit a website or use a third-party app, making it a true writing tool that’s always at your disposal.
Writing Tools works quite well even in this beta stage, so I’m excited to see how it will perform when iPadOS 18 is released to the public later this year. If it proves to be an indispensable writing aid, it might even soften my skepticism about AI.
More from Tom’s Guide:
- Apple Intelligence underscores Apple’s biggest iPhone mistake in years
- 5 ways you might actually use Apple Intelligence in everyday life
- iPadOS 18 public beta — 5 features you should try right now
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About the Author:
Tony is a computing writer at Tom’s Guide, covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on X/Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits include attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.
