Owners of the iPhone 15 Pro will soon be able to use Visual Intelligence as part of an iOS update
iPhone 15 Pro users will soon enjoy a major software upgrade that brings Apple’s Visual Intelligence, a feature comparable to Google Lens, to their devices. As reported by Daring Fireball, Apple is extending this AI-powered tool to the 2023 Pro models, reducing the need for an immediate upgrade to the iPhone 16 series.
The iPhone 16 and 16 Pro allow users to access Visual Intelligence with a long press of their dedicated camera button. However, since the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max lack this physical button—similar to the newly announced iPhone 16e—Apple will enable the feature through the Action button or a shortcut in the Control Center. This functionality is expected to arrive in a forthcoming iOS update.
Although Apple hasn’t officially confirmed which iOS version will deliver this enhancement, tech expert John Gruber from Daring Fireball speculates that it will debut in iOS 18.4, which could become available for beta testers imminently.
Part of Apple’s growing suite of AI-powered tools, Visual Intelligence enables real-time analysis of objects and text using the iPhone’s camera. While it offers some built-in functionalities, its capabilities expand when paired with persistent shortcuts to ChatGPT and Google Image Search.
For example, if you stumble upon a set of uniquely patterned towels in your closet but can’t recall where you bought them, Visual Intelligence can help. By selecting the Google search shortcut, you might quickly track down the same product online. Alternatively, using ChatGPT, you could inquire about the towel’s design and where to purchase it.
Beyond object identification, Visual Intelligence can also process text—offering translation, text-to-speech, and summarization. Additionally, pointing the camera at a business can reveal key details such as its hours, menu, and available services, along with options to make purchases directly.
With this update on the horizon, iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users will soon experience Apple’s advanced AI tools. For those eager to try it sooner, the beta release might offer an early glimpse, though with the usual risks of pre-release software.
