The first visual cue of something new Apple Intelligence on the iPhone on iOS 18.2 is Siri's improved look — a pulsating rainbow of colors around the edge of the entire screen. But have you updated your iPhone and see the same animated globe anchored at the bottom of the screen for the past few years?
I ran into the same thing and was also confused.
It turns out I have to do one more step before I can try the smarter Siri — as well as other Apple Intelligence features such as writing tools, notice summaries and the The Clean Up feature in Pictures.
If you're seeing the same thing, here's why.
Siri's new design is a glowing border that ruins everything momentarily.
Watch this: Apple Redesigns Siri With AI and Glowing Borders
Your iPhone may not be able to run Apple Intelligence
The latest system update is for everyone with an iPhone XS or later, but that doesn't mean everyone will get Apple Intelligence. In fact, since most AI computing is done on the device, very few models can run the new technologies:
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple Intelligence will also run on Macs and iPads with M-series processors, as well as the latest iPad Mini (powered by the A17 Pro chip).
If you have either of those models, you'll see the shiny new look when you call up Siri. On the Mac, the Siri search field gets the same effect instead of the entire edges of the screen. If you have a different model, you'll see the same Siri orb.
Siri under iOS 18 looks the same as it did in iOS 17 for many people.
You may be idle on the Apple Intelligence waitlist
Officially, Apple Intelligence is considered a beta feature, even on supported devices. As part of this prerelease program, Apple provides access to people who request it simultaneously. (For more, see why does Apple use this waitlist approach.)
After installing iOS 18.2 (or iPadOS 18.2 or MacOS Sequoia 15.2), you need to go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and tap Join the Apple Intelligence Waitlist > Join the Waitlist. The new Siri effect will appear only after you request it and granted access.
Reports online and from friends suggest that people can start using Apple Intelligence after just a few hours of waiting. That will no doubt change as Apple balances the demand on its network of Private Cloud Compute infrastructure.
For more, here the right way to back up your iPhone before you install iOS 18.2 and eight settings you'll want to change first in iOS 18.2.
