Apple rolled out its notification summary feature with iOS 18.1, but it is clear that this new AI-powered feature is not yet fully developed. Available on iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro, as well as on Macs and iPads equipped with an M1 chip or newer, this function attempts to synthesize your notifications… with sometimes surprising results.
A feature with mixed results
The principle is simple: when several notifications accumulate for the same application, Apple’s local AI tries to make a concise summary. While this works quite well for certain use cases, such as HomeKit notifications (“Garage opened then closed several times”), things get seriously complicated with conversations.
The prompts used by Apple Intelligence, discovered in macOS system files, show that the AI must summarize messages in less than 10 words, avoid sensitive content and favor simple propositions. A framework perhaps too restrictive which leads to funny situations.
As Andrew Cunningham reportsArs Technica :
I saw a breakup message summed up as ‘Apologies for poor communication; busy life; not ready for a relationship’. Technically correct but disconcertingly robotically cold.
Obvious bugs and limitations
The main problems identified are:
- Misunderstanding sarcasm and colloquialisms
- Loss of context, especially when photos or videos are involved
- Information overload in group conversations
- Sometimes worrying errors of interpretation
An example shared by The Verge A good example of these limitations is that a Ring notification saying “Multiple people at the front door, back door, and driveway” could send anyone waking up in the middle of the night into a panic.
My mom: That hike almost killed me!
Apple’s AI summary: pic.twitter.com/fyN5UopIdH
— Schmidt (@AndrewSchmidtFC) October 25, 2024
The function does best with emails, particularly press releases or marketing messages that follow a more formal structure. But for informal conversations, the result is often approximate or even completely off the mark.
For users bothered by these random summaries, it is possible to deactivate the function for certain applications via Settings > Notifications > Summarize previews. A welcome option while waiting for Apple to improve its AI with future updates.
Ultimately, this feature of iOS 18.1 illustrates the current challenges of conversational AI: while it can efficiently process structured content, it still struggles to grasp all the subtleties of everyday human language. Between now and the arrival of Apple Intelligence in French in April, Apple has time to improve its copy.
