Apple Mail for iPhone, Mac and iPad is getting a real dose of artificial intelligence. When it next version launches in the autumn, it will be able to summarize emails, assign them to categories based on their contents, and draft replies to messages so the user doesn’t have to.
“Staying on top of emails has never been easier,” promises Apple.
Apple Mail for iPhone, Mac and iPad get AI smarts
Apple Mail is one of those utility applications that Mac, iPhone and iPad users depend on but don’t think about much. But iOS 18, macOS 15 and iPadOS 18 are infusing the app with a lot of eye-catching artificial intelligence features intended to make it more useful … and maybe a bit more interesting. It’s one of the many aspects of Apple Intelligence.
Those of us who get loads of emails every day can appreciate a new auto categorization feature. “On-device categorization organizes and sorts incoming email into Primary for personal and time-sensitive emails, Transactions for confirmations and receipts, Updates for news and social notifications, and Promotions for marketing emails and coupons,” said Apple’s announcement of the new features.
Screenshot: Apple
And there’s a new digest view that collects emails from a business in one place.
The upcoming Apple Mail version uses AI to create a Priority Messages section at the top of the inbox showing email it thinks are most urgent, like a same-day dinner invitation or boarding pass.
Lists of messages in the Inbox can show a quick summary of the contents where the current version of the app shows the first few lines of each email.
Apple Mail Smart Replies could be brilliant
Even people not interested in the other AI features coming to Apple Mail might be intrigued by Smart Reply. The application is able to create a suggested reply to a message so the user doesn’t have to. And because artificial intelligence is being used, these go beyond the usual “Sounds good” or “👍.”
Plus a new feature called Writing Tools is intended to help Mail users communicate more effectively. A user can highlight a message then use AI to make it more friendly, professional or concise (see the image at the top of the article).
“Rewrite gives you different versions of what you’ve written, so you can choose the one you like best,” said Justine Titi, Director, Intelligent System Experience Engineering.
Apple Intelligence can even identify questions in an email to ensure everything is answered.
AI on the device… mostly
Apple protects the privacy of its customers so as much of its new artificial intelligence features as possible will be handled on the device. It won’t be necessary for a remote Apple AI server to read all your email.
Just wait for Apple Mail in iOS 18, macOS 15 and iPadOS 18
While Apple used Monday’s keynote address of WWDC24 to unveil the new artificial intelligence features coming to Apple Mail, the full launch of these is still months away. iOS 18, macOS 15 and iPadOS 18 bundled with the mail application will reach customers in this autumn.
Those who just can’t wait can sign up for the Apple Beta Software program. It’s free, but also guarantees buggy software.
