Apple has released iOS 18.1 beta for developers, and it brings some exciting new features. The coolest feature is Apple Intelligence, which includes the ability to record phone calls and transcribe them. This feature could be a game-changer for many users. Imagine being able to easily capture important conversations, ensuring you never miss any details. Whether it’s for work meetings, interviews, or personal calls, this new capability promises to add convenience and functionality to your iPhone. Additionally, Apple Intelligence provides handy summaries for any selected text on your device.

How call recording works

You can enable recording on your iPhone when you answer or make a call. To do this, all you have to do is tap on the record button in the upper left corner of the screen. As soon as you enable recording, all participants on the call will hear an audible message informing them that the call is being recorded. This notification ensures that everyone is in the know, preventing any confusion or surprises.

As the call is recorded, your iPhone will also provide a written transcript of the conversation. This transcript happens in real time, allowing you to follow along as the conversation goes on. The transcript feature supports many languages, including English (various regions), Spanish (US, Mexico, Spain), French (France), German (Germany), Japanese (Japan), Mandarin Chinese (Mainland China, Taiwan), Cantonese (Mainland China, Hong Kong), and Portuguese (Brazil). This wide range of language support ensures that many users around the world can benefit from this feature.

One of the exciting new aspects of this feature is the ability to create a summary of the main points discussed during the call. This means you can quickly review important aspects of the conversation without needing to listen to the full recording. This summary feature is part of Apple’s new Intelligence capabilities, which make it easier to remember and reference important information from your call.

Along with call recording and transcription, there are several other updates being made to the Phone app. A new search interface for call history will make it easier to find past calls. The app will also have an autofill feature for phone numbers, so as soon as you start typing the digits, the app will complete the number for you. Additionally, there will also be an option to easily switch SIM cards during a call, which is convenient for users who use multiple SIMs.

Apple plans to extend these audio and transcription capabilities to the Notes app as well. This means you can record audio directly in the Notes app from iPhone 12 and later models and get live transcripts. These updates are set to make managing calls and notes more efficient and user-friendly.
Overall, the call recording and transcription feature in iOS 18.1 is designed to make your iPhone a more powerful tool for managing and reviewing your conversations.