Users queuing to test Apple Intelligence features: how long is the waiting list?

Apple Intelligence is here. Sort of.

Apple has released the first batch of Apple Intelligence features, which are available to those who installed iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and MacOS Sequoia 15.1 updates.

It’s just a small fraction of the promises Apple made during WWDC in June. Users will get writing assistance, a new photo editing tool, notification summaries, and an audio transcription tool.

Siri, while smarter, still won’t be able to operate across different apps. Users will have to wait until December for AI-based emojis, integration of ChatGPT, and visual intelligence features.

However, even with Apple Intelligence available with software updates, iPhone owners have to wait a bit longer to start testing new capabilities.

After updating your device, you’ll need to join the waiting list, Apple said. For that, go to Settings, click Apple Intelligence & Siri, and tap to Join the Apple Intelligence Waitlist.

And then, wait some more, as getting through will take some time.

“Apple Intelligence is usually available for activation within a few hours of joining the waitlist, though wait times can vary,” the support page reads.

All users who join the waitlist will eventually receive a notification saying they can now activate the new features.

“On-device Apple Intelligence models will begin to download after activation.”

To get started, you’ll also need 4GB of storage and the device and Siri languages set to a supported language—English (US), English (Australia), English (Canada), English (Ireland), English (New Zealand), English (South Africa), and English (UK).

Apple Intelligence is available only to the owners of the newest Apple devices: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max; any iPad with A17 Pro or M1 and later; and Mac with M1 or later.

Europeans will have to wait another few months before trying new features. However, they can try it out while traveling or with macOS Sequoia 15.1 on supported Mac models.

Already available Apple Intelligence features:

• Writing Tools

• Clean Up in Photos

• Create a Memory movie in Photos

• Natural language search in Photos

• Notification summaries

• Reduce Interruptions Focus

• Intelligent Breakthrough & Silencing in Focus

• Priority messages in Mail

• Smart Reply in Mail and Messages

• Summaries in Mail and Messages

• Siri enhancements, including product knowledge, more resilient request handling, new look and feel, more natural voice, the ability to type to Siri, and more