Apple unveils macOS Sequoia with new intelligence features

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple on Monday introduced macOS Sequoia, the next version of its desktop operating system, bringing new ways of working and transformative intelligence features to Mac.

The macOS Sequoia's new capabilities include iPhone Mirroring, which expands Continuity by enabling full access to and control of iPhone directly from macOS.

Access to ChatGPT is also integrated into Siri and systemwide Writing Tools across Apple's platforms, allowing users to access its expertise, as well as its image- and document-understanding capabilities, without needing to jump between tools, Apple said.

"Today, we're excited to take macOS to new heights with macOS Sequoia, a big release that elevates productivity and intelligence," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering.

The new macOS also introduces Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system for Mac, iPhone, and iPad that combines the power of generative models with personal context, the company said.

Apple Intelligence is deeply integrated into macOS Sequoia, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18. It will be supported by every Mac with an M-series chip, according to the company.

According to the company, Siri becomes more natural, contextually relevant, and personal with the power of Apple Intelligence. Users can switch between text and voice to communicate with Siri.

With Private Cloud Compute, Apple sets a new standard for privacy in AI. When requests are routed to Private Cloud Compute, data is not stored or made accessible to Apple. "Independent experts can verify this privacy promise," the company noted.

With new systemwide Writing Tools built into macOS Sequoia, users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.

With Image Playground, users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch.

Memories in Photos lets users create the stories they want to see just by typing a description. "Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos based on the description, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc," Apple said.

In addition, a new Clean Up tool can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo.

Big Updates also come to Apple's browser Safari. A redesigned Reader includes more ways to enjoy articles without distractions. When Safari detects a video on the page, Viewer helps users put it front and center, while still giving them full access to system playback controls, including Picture in Picture.