Apple Unveils iOS 17.2 with Expanded AI, New Features

Apple is preparing to release iOS 17.2, with the Release Candidate (RC) version now available to developers. The official launch is anticipated next week. While not a revolutionary update, iOS 17.2 introduces several practical improvements.

The most significant enhancement is the expansion of Siri's AI capabilities to five new languages: French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. Previously, Siri's advanced AI functions were only available in English. Users in Israel will continue to interact with Siri in English, as Hebrew is not included in this update.

The Messages app will now offer automatic action suggestions based on conversation content, allowing users to create calendar events, reminders, or notes with a single tap. Users can customize which types of suggestions appear. Group FaceTime calls will support dual recording, utilizing both front and rear cameras simultaneously, a feature enabled by default on the iPhone 17 and newer models. The Call Context feature has also been updated to include reminders for anniversaries.

The Apple TV app on iPhone and iPad will now feature individual profiles, providing each household member with their own viewing history and personalized recommendations. In the Home app, automatic locking after a door closes and notifications for open doors have been added, though these require compatible smart locks. The Podcasts app will split its queue into "New Episodes" and "Continue Listening." The Games app will display recently downloaded but unlaunched games. Apple Music receives a new black and white icon with blue accents instead of the traditional red.

Users in the European Union will see an expanded consent message regarding cross-app user tracking. Notably, a redesigned Health app, previously tested in beta, has been removed from this update and will be released at a later date, with no specific timeline provided by Apple.