Safari Could Be Getting an AI Update This Year (and More)
2024 looks set to be the year Apple jumps on the AI bandwagon. Most analysts expect the company to introduce new AI features in the company’s latest updates, including, of course, iOS 18 and macOS 15, as Apple has yet to implement generative AI in any meaningful way.
While we’ve heard about many different AI features that Apple may have planned for this year, the latest rumors point to Safari : AppleInsider sources say Safari 18 will add at least one new AI-powered feature that could take it greater consistency with existing ones. services such as Gemini in Chrome , Copilot in Edge or Aria in Opera . Additionally, the site highlights some other non-AI changes that Apple may be preparing.
Smart Search
One of the AI features reportedly discovered by AI engineers is “Intelligent Search,” which can evaluate a web page for keywords and phrases to produce a summary for quick reference. These engineers say the feature uses Apple’s on-device artificial intelligence model to find specific sentences that explain or describe a problem, as well as repeated words and sentences, to build that summary.
According to these insiders, Smart Search isn’t enabled by default and isn’t currently running, so it’s still unclear exactly how it will work. However, it makes sense for Apple to only offer the AI assistant in Safari: most other companies that offer internet browsers also offer some type of AI enhancement alongside it. It would be a big surprise if Safari 18 didn’t include AI-powered web page summarization.
Web eraser
This feature is aptly named: With Web Eraser, you can “erase” parts of a web page that you don’t want to see, including ads, images, blocks of text, etc. Plus, Safari remembers your previous eraser settings, so when you will be returned to the web page, the same options will be missing.
We’ve already seen this type of tool in other services, namely ad blockers, but this is certainly a first for Apple. The company will likely bundle Web Eraser with Safari’s other privacy settings, such as iCloud Private Relay .
Quick Settings
Smart Search, Web Eraser, and other Safari features and settings (such as the Aa menu in iOS and iPadOS) can be accessed from the Safari Quick Menu. Right now, macOS Safari’s Quick Menu includes privacy features, a sharing menu, and the ability to bookmark a page, so it makes sense to combine all of Safari’s core features in one place.
Will Safari 18 make an impact on the browser world?
It may not be the best choice for everyone, but there is an argument to be made that Safari is the best web browser out there right now . Apple has an opportunity with Safari 18 on iOS 18 and macOS 15 to make the browser even better: I’m not entirely sold on how useful AI can be for everyday use, but if Apple can figure out how to add truly useful AI tools for Safari (especially if you can disable or ignore them). I’m all for it.
While AppleInsider has only made these three changes to Safari 18, there are no doubt more changes, big and small, in the works. In fact, the publication claims that Apple plans to release an improved visual search tool for Safari in 2025 that will allow you to search for images you find on the web and learn more about them. While there won’t be such a big leap this year, there will likely be new features and changes coming to Safari 18 and macOS 15. We’ll keep an eye out for any new rumors, but luckily WWDC isn’t that far away. away .