Apple is developing a new feature for iPhones that uses artificial intelligence to create automatic responses for text messages and emails, according to The Sun.
What is Smart Reply?
The feature, named “Smart Reply,” is part of Apple’s “Apple Intelligence” project introduced with the iOS 18 update. It allows users to quickly and effortlessly respond to messages by offering pre-written suggestions tailored to the content of the original message.
You can find the Smart Reply feature within the Messages app and Apple’s Mail app. It simplifies the response process by providing quick options, making it significantly faster to reply. For instance, when you receive a message with a question, Smart Reply will generate several quick response options to choose from, then craft a complete response you can send immediately.
How Does Smart Reply Work?
For example, if a friend asks if you’d like to join them somewhere or inquires whether you’re driving or taking a taxi, the Smart Reply interface will present you with multiple relevant options. You can select one, tweak it if necessary, and send it right away.
Apple explains that the feature becomes increasingly helpful with more complex messages, saving users time by providing relevant, ready-to-send replies.
Smart Reply in Emails
In the Mail app, the Smart Reply feature allows you to craft quick responses while including all necessary details. Apple’s AI can identify questions in emails and suggest relevant points to include in your reply.
Requirements for Smart Reply on iPhone
To use Smart Reply, you’ll need:
- An iPhone running the latest iOS 18.
- A powerful processor to support Apple Intelligence, meaning the feature will only work on iPhone 15 Pro models and newer, as well as all iPhone 16 models.
For language settings, devices configured to use American English will receive the feature with the iOS 18.1 update. Those using British English will have to wait until iOS 18.2, expected to roll out in December. To get the feature earlier, you can set your device and Siri to American English.
How to Use Smart Reply on iPhone
- If your device meets the requirements, you can activate Smart Reply through the Messages app.
- When replying to a message, Smart Reply suggestions will appear where the usual quick responses are shown. They will have a glowing interface similar to Siri, indicating the use of Apple’s AI.
- Select the most appropriate suggestion, complete any additional prompts if needed, and send your Smart Reply instantly.
Apple highlights that Smart Reply is designed to enhance the user experience by streamlining the reply process. The feature ensures that responses appear completely natural, making it impossible for recipients to distinguish between AI-generated replies and manually written ones.
