Apple’s Find My app will soon be enriched with welcome new features for anyone who tends to misplace their belongings. The next iOS 18.2 update, scheduled for December, brings significant improvements to the object location sharing system, particularly with AirTags.
Easy sharing with anyone
Until now, sharing the location of an AirTag or a connected object was limited to loved ones via Family Sharing. With iOS 18.2, Apple introduces the ability to create a temporary public link allowing anyone to view the location of a lost item. This feature will prove particularly useful in situations like lost luggage at the airport, where staff will be able to directly track the location of your suitcase.
The system has been designed to preserve confidentiality: the link expires automatically after a few hours and can be revoked at any time. The owner’s contact details (email and telephone number) are shared in a controlled manner, and it is possible to track who viewed the link.
More communicative AirTags
The other major new feature concerns the AirTags themselves. When a person scans a lost AirTag with their iPhone, they will now be able to directly access the contact details of its owner if the owner has activated this option. An improvement which should make it easier to return lost objects, while being part of Apple’s policy to combat the malicious use of AirTags.
These improvements are part of the iOS 18.2 update, which is shaping up to be one of the biggest of the year. It will also include several new artificial intelligence features such as Genmoji, Image Playground and the integration of ChatGPT (not in France), confirming Apple’s commitment to this rapidly expanding field.
