Safari’s new Highlights feature brings the power of Apple Intelligence to your browsing experience. With just a few taps, you can now get clear summaries of webpages without reading through walls of text. Safari Highlights can quickly analyze articles and give you the key points, saving you valuable time when you’re researching or just trying to get the main idea of a webpage.
This feature works by using Apple’s proprietary AI technology to scan the content and identify what matters most. When you’re viewing a webpage in Safari, you can simply tap the Page Settings button, select Show Reader, and then tap Summarize at the top of the page. The system then creates a helpful overview that focuses on the important parts.
Apple Intelligence powers this useful tool across both Mac and iPhone devices. On Mac, users can click the Page Menu button in Safari and select Show Reader, then click Summarize to see the webpage highlights. The feature is part of Apple’s broader push to make information more accessible without compromising on privacy or security.
Safari Highlights: A Smarter Way to Browse
Apple’s new Highlights feature in Safari is designed to strip away the clutter and surface exactly what you’re looking for—without you having to ask. It’s a subtle addition, but one that has the potential to change how we interact with the web. Instead of scrolling endlessly through dense articles or poorly designed pages, Safari intelligently identifies key information and presents it in an easy-to-read card.
Imagine you’re browsing a restaurant’s website. Rather than hunt for the hours of operation, phone number, or location buried somewhere in the footer, Safari Highlights detects that info automatically and displays it front and center. The same goes for articles, where it can offer a brief summary or key points without making you wade through walls of text.
This is particularly handy for travel sites, event pages, or product listings. It quickly pulls out directions, dates, contact details, or even key images, saving you time and frustration. The goal seems to be helping users find what they need faster, with less effort, and in fewer clicks.
Smarter Reader Mode
Safari’s Reader Mode also gets a major boost. Beyond just removing ads and distractions, the new version can generate a high-level summary of an article. You can skim a concise breakdown or dive into the full piece, depending on how much time you have. It’s like having a research assistant who gives you the bullet points first and lets you decide if it’s worth the deep dive.
This isn’t just for news articles. Reader Mode now applies to any text-heavy webpage, from blog posts to research papers. It makes mobile browsing especially more efficient—helping you stay informed without being overwhelmed.
Apple Intelligence: Privacy-First AI That’s Actually Useful
Apple is diving headfirst into the AI space, but they’re doing it in a distinctly Apple way: Privacy-first, seamless, and integrated into the apps you already use. They’re calling it Apple Intelligence, and it’s their most ambitious software push in years.
What Apple Intelligence Can Do
At its core, Apple Intelligence is an AI layer that enhances iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. It’s baked right into the system and helps with everyday tasks across your devices. Here’s what stands out:
- Writing Tools: You can now rewrite, proofread, or summarize text in apps like Mail, Notes, and even third-party apps. Whether you’re sending a formal email or jotting down ideas, the AI offers helpful tone suggestions and clarity improvements without making your writing sound robotic.
- Image Playground: This is Apple’s creative playground for generating images on the fly. It works directly inside Messages, Notes, and other apps. You pick a style—Sketch, Illustration, or Animation—and describe what you want. It’s user-friendly, doesn’t require complex prompts, and runs on-device for privacy.
- Siri Gets Smarter: Siri finally steps up. With Apple Intelligence, Siri can understand context better, remember previous interactions, and help you get things done across apps. Ask it to “Find that document John sent me last week” and it knows what you’re talking about. Siri also gets text-based interaction, so you can type commands when you don’t feel like talking.
ChatGPT Integration (If You Want It)
Apple Intelligence includes optional access to ChatGPT, seamlessly integrated into the system. If Siri thinks ChatGPT might be helpful for a complex request—like brainstorming ideas or generating detailed content—it’ll ask if you want to use it. You don’t need a ChatGPT account, and it works for free, which is a nice touch. Crucially, Apple says nothing gets shared without your explicit permission.
Private Cloud Compute: The Secret Sauce
One of the biggest criticisms of AI is data privacy. Apple seems to have anticipated this concern with something called Private Cloud Compute. It’s a hybrid model where most AI processing happens locally on your device, but if the task needs more horsepower, it securely taps into Apple’s cloud servers.
What makes this unique is that even when data goes to the cloud, it’s end-to-end encrypted. Apple claims they can’t access it, and third parties can’t either. It’s reviewed by independent security experts, and they’re betting big on this to set them apart from other AI platforms.
Compatibility and Device Support
If you’re eager to try Apple Intelligence, there’s a catch: it only works on devices with M1 chips or later, and on iPhones, you’ll need at least an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max. This makes sense given the on-device processing power Apple is relying on—but it also means older devices won’t get access.
Supported platforms include:
- iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max
- iPad models with M1 chips or newer
- Macs with M1 chips or newer
The beta is rolling out this summer, with the full release expected alongside iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia this fall.
Why This Matters
Apple is betting on a future where AI enhances your day-to-day life without feeling invasive or creepy. They’re focusing on utility, privacy, and seamless integration, rather than flashy demos or experimental tech. Safari Highlights and Apple Intelligence are just the start—expect deeper integrations as the ecosystem evolves.
For Apple users, this could be the productivity boost they’ve been waiting for. Whether it’s helping you focus while browsing, rewriting a tricky email, or fetching an old file without digging through folders, Apple’s AI promises to make your digital life a little easier. And in typical Apple fashion, it’s doing so while keeping your data locked down tight.
Key Takeaways
- Safari Highlights uses Apple Intelligence to create quick summaries of webpages with a few simple clicks or taps.
- The feature works across both Mac and iPhone devices through the Safari browser’s Reader mode.
- Webpage summaries focus on key points and important information, saving users time when browsing content online.
Evolution of Safari
Safari has grown from a basic web browser into a smart tool with powerful features like Highlights and Apple Intelligence. The browser’s journey shows how Apple keeps improving how we use the internet on all their devices.
From Origins to iOS 18
Safari first appeared in 2003 as Apple’s answer to Internet Explorer and Firefox. It started on Mac computers but later came to iPhones when they launched in 2007.
Over the years, Safari has added many helpful features. It brought us private browsing, Reading List for saving articles, and iCloud tabs for switching between devices.
With iOS 18, Safari takes a big leap forward. The new Highlights feature uses machine learning to create quick summaries of webpages. This helps users find important information without reading everything.
Safari now also works with Apple Intelligence, which brings AI tools right into your browsing. These changes make Safari much smarter than early versions.
Impact on iPhone and iPad Browsing Experience
On iPhones and iPads, Safari’s new tools make browsing faster and more helpful. The webpage summary feature lets users tap “Summarize” in Reader view to get key points instantly.
Safari Highlights appears at the top of compatible webpages, showing the most important facts without scrolling. This saves time when looking for specific information.
The browser now fits better with how people use their devices. It works smoothly with touchscreens and adjusts to different screen sizes automatically.
For iPad users, Safari’s tab system now works more like a desktop computer. This makes it easier to manage many open websites at once, perfect for research or work projects.
These improvements help iPhone and iPad users find information faster and understand complex topics more easily.
Integration with macOS Sequoia
In macOS Sequoia, Safari becomes even more powerful. The browser now sits at the center of Apple’s AI strategy on Mac computers.
Safari Highlights on Mac works just like on mobile devices. It shows important information in a clean format at the top of webpages.
The browser now connects deeply with other Mac apps. You can ask questions about webpage content and get answers using Apple Intelligence without leaving Safari.
Password management has improved too. Safari now suggests strong passwords and warns about security risks more effectively than before.
For Mac users who work with many tabs, Safari in macOS Sequoia offers better organization tools. Tab groups now sync across all Apple devices, letting you pick up where you left off.
Apple Intelligence in iOS
Apple Intelligence brings powerful AI capabilities to iPhone users through iOS 18. These features focus on understanding language, creating content, and making daily tasks easier with smart automation.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Apple Intelligence uses advanced machine learning to provide helpful features across iOS. The system works directly on your device, keeping your information private and secure.
With iOS 18.1, iPhone 16 users can generate summaries of webpages in Safari. This feature helps quickly understand article content without reading everything.
The AI system also helps prioritize notifications, emails, and messages. It sorts what’s most important so users don’t miss critical information.
Apple designed these features with privacy as a priority. The company built the system to process information on the device when possible, rather than sending data to servers.
Users can access these tools from the Apple Intelligence menu found in various apps across iOS 18.
Advancements from iOS 18.1 to iOS 18.4
iOS 18.1 introduced the first Apple Intelligence features, including Safari’s webpage summaries. These summaries started with a full article view but later updates improved the experience.
In iOS 18.1 Beta 4, Apple changed Safari article summaries to default to “Highlights” output, making information easier to scan quickly.
iOS 18.2 expanded these capabilities with better language processing and more reliable results. The update fixed early bugs and improved performance on supported devices.
iOS 18.3 and 18.4 continued refining these features with:
- Faster processing times
- Better battery efficiency
- More natural language in summaries
- Additional language support
- Expanded device compatibility
Each update has made Apple Intelligence tools more useful and reliable for everyday tasks on iPhone.
Enhancements in User Interface
Safari’s interface has undergone significant changes with Apple Intelligence integration. These updates focus on making content more readable and tailored to individual preferences.
Adaptive Reader View
Safari’s new Reader View adapts to how you use your device. It automatically adjusts text size based on your reading distance from the screen. The view removes distracting elements like ads and popups that get in the way of reading.
Font choices now include more options for better readability. Users can select from serif, sans-serif, and dyslexia-friendly fonts. The spacing between lines adjusts based on the length of the article.
Color themes change based on time of day and ambient light. Dark mode activates automatically in low light, while sepia tone works well in medium lighting. The contrast ratio meets accessibility standards to support all users.
Text-to-speech features have improved with more natural-sounding voices. The reading speed adjusts based on content complexity and user preference.
Personalization Techniques
Safari now remembers how users interact with various websites. It applies preferred zoom levels automatically when you revisit sites. Font settings stick to your choices for each website you visit.
The Highlights feature uses AI to identify key information based on your reading habits. It learns what content matters to you and makes it stand out on the page.
Users can create custom reading profiles for different purposes:
- Work mode: Focuses on facts and data
- Leisure mode: Emphasizes images and videos
- Research mode: Highlights citations and sources
The toolbar layout adapts based on which features you use most often. Frequently used buttons move to more accessible positions. Those rarely touched fade into background menus.
Features of Safari Highlights
Safari Highlights uses Apple Intelligence to quickly show you the important parts of web pages. This tool makes reading online easier by pulling out key information without you having to search through the whole page.
Overview of Highlighted Features
Safari Highlights appears in the URL bar when you visit compatible web pages. The feature scans the content and creates a quick summary of the main points. This saves time when you want to get information fast.
The tool works with many types of content. For articles, it pulls out the key points and main ideas. When looking at business pages, it can show:
- Address details
- Operating hours
- Quick links to get directions
Users can access Highlights through the Smart Search field in Safari. The feature is powered by Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI system built with privacy in mind.
Enhancing the Web Page Interactions
Highlights makes finding buried information much easier. Instead of scrolling through long pages, users can see important details right away at the top of the screen.
The feature can be customized in Settings. In iOS 18.1, Apple adjusted the default output to show the “Highlights” view rather than full summaries.
Safari Highlights works alongside the Summarize feature. Together they offer two ways to digest web content:
- Highlights: Quick points and key details
- Summarize: Longer overview of the entire page
These tools help users who want to get information quickly without reading entire web pages. The feature is most useful for research, news reading, and checking business information.
Apple Intelligence Features
Apple Intelligence brings advanced capabilities to Safari that help users interact with web content in smarter ways. These features use on-device processing to maintain privacy while delivering powerful tools for summarizing, creating, and communicating.
Location and Privacy
Apple Intelligence processes data directly on your device rather than sending it to cloud servers. This on-device processing ensures your personal information remains private when using features like webpage summaries.
Privacy controls give users full transparency about what data Apple Intelligence accesses. You can easily turn features on or off in Settings, giving you control over your experience.
Apple Intelligence is available on newer devices like the iPhone 16 series and Macs with macOS 15.1 or later. The system requirements ensure the device has enough processing power to handle AI tasks locally without compromising performance.
Location-based intelligence helps with contextual suggestions while maintaining strict privacy boundaries. The system only uses location data when necessary and with explicit permission.
Genmoji and Personalized Avatars
Genmoji lets you create custom emojis from text descriptions. Type what you want to express, and Apple Intelligence generates a unique emoji matching your idea.
These custom emojis integrate seamlessly into Messages, Mail, and other apps. Your personalized expressions become part of your communication style across the Apple ecosystem.
You can create unlimited variations with different themes, styles, and emotions. The AI understands nuanced descriptions and produces relevant visual results.
Personalized avatars go beyond basic emoji by allowing you to create cartoon-like representations of yourself or concepts. These avatars can be used as profile pictures or in messages to add personality to your communications.
Both features work without internet connection once downloaded, ensuring your creative expression isn’t limited by connectivity issues.
Smart Writing Tools
Safari now includes powerful summarization features that can condense long articles into key points. This helps you quickly understand content without reading entire webpages.
The Rewrite tool helps polish your text in different styles. You can make writing more formal, casual, or concise with a simple request.
Smart Reply suggests contextual responses based on received messages and webpage content. These suggestions save time while maintaining your personal communication style.
The Proofread function automatically checks your writing for errors and suggests improvements. It goes beyond basic spell-checking to include grammar, clarity, and tone adjustments.
All writing tools work within Safari’s text fields, making them accessible whenever you’re browsing. This integration makes writing emails, social media posts, or forum responses more efficient.
Communication Integration
Apple Intelligence enhances how Safari connects with messaging and email platforms, creating a more unified browsing experience. Users can now seamlessly share web content and communicate without leaving their browser window.
iOS Messaging and ChatGPT
The new Safari update brings powerful ChatGPT integration directly into the messaging experience. Users can now:
- Access ChatGPT while browsing to ask questions about webpage content
- Share Safari highlights directly through iOS messaging
- Get AI-powered suggestions for responses to messages about shared content
Setting up this feature is simple. Users just need to go to Settings, tap Apple Intelligence & Siri, select ChatGPT, and follow the setup instructions. No account is required, though signing in offers additional features.
With iOS 18, users can highlight text on a webpage and instantly send it via SMS with contextual information attached. This creates a smarter conversation around web content with less back-and-forth explanation.
Emails and Smart Mail Messages
Safari’s updated Mail integration transforms how users share web discoveries through email. The browser now offers smart email composition tools when sharing content.
When users select text on a webpage, Safari can:
- Create email drafts with properly formatted quotes and citations
- Generate concise webpage summaries to include in emails
- Suggest relevant subject lines based on shared content
The system also recognizes when emails contain links and provides preview information directly in the Mail app. This makes conversations about web content more efficient.
For frequent email users, Safari now offers to save commonly referenced websites for quick sharing. This feature helps professionals who regularly send similar resources to clients or colleagues.
Media Management
Apple Intelligence brings powerful tools to Safari that extend beyond text, helping users handle media more effectively. These innovations make working with photos and creating custom images simpler and more intuitive.
Photos App Innovations
The Photos app integration with Apple Intelligence creates a seamless experience when browsing images in Safari. Users can select images from webpages and add them directly to their library with smart categorization.
Apple Intelligence can recognize people, places, and objects in saved web images automatically. This feature makes finding specific photos later much easier.
The system also suggests relevant web images based on your current photo collections. For example, if you’re researching a vacation spot, Safari might highlight images that match your interests.
Smart cropping helps users get perfect screenshots from web content. The tool identifies the main subject and creates ideal crops without manual adjustments.
Image Playground for Creatives
Image Playground works with Safari to turn web inspiration into creative projects. Users can grab visual elements from websites and transform them using AI tools.
The app offers three main styles:
- Animation – Adds motion to static web images
- Illustration – Converts photos into artistic drawings
- Sketch – Creates simple line drawings from complex images
Web content can spark new ideas through the “Remix” feature. This tool takes elements from websites and generates fresh variations based on text prompts.
Creative professionals save time with batch processing. The system can apply the same style to multiple web images at once, maintaining a consistent look across projects.
Device Specific Innovations
Apple has tailored Safari Highlights and Apple Intelligence features to work uniquely across different hardware in its ecosystem. These innovations take advantage of each device’s specific capabilities while maintaining a consistent user experience.
iPhone 15 Pro and Beyond
The iPhone 15 Pro leads Apple’s mobile intelligence revolution with specialized hardware that powers Safari Highlights. Its A17 Pro chip contains dedicated neural engine components that process AI tasks directly on the device. This ensures both speed and privacy when generating article summaries.
Apple Intelligence features on the iPhone 15 Pro work seamlessly with Safari Highlights, prioritizing important information without sending data to external servers. Users can quickly scan article key points without reading the entire page.
The iPhone 16 expands these capabilities with enhanced on-device processing power. Its improved neural engine handles more complex summarization tasks and can better identify the most relevant information in longer articles.
Battery optimization is another key advancement. Safari Highlights on newer iPhones uses AI efficiently without significant power drain, making it practical for daily use.
Apple TV and Home Ecosystem
Apple TV integrates Safari Highlights differently, focusing on content consumption in a living room environment. The system adapts web content for larger screens, displaying summaries that are readable from a distance.
When browsing news sites or articles on Apple TV, the Safari Highlights feature presents concise bullet points of key information at the top of the page. This creates a more TV-friendly reading experience.
Voice integration allows users to request highlights verbally through Siri. This hands-free approach fits naturally with how people interact with Apple TV.
The home ecosystem benefits from shared intelligence. Safari browsing history and preferences sync across devices, so highlights on Apple TV reflect user interests established on iPhone or iPad.
Focus Modes and Interruptions
Apple Intelligence enhances how users manage notifications and minimize distractions on their devices. These smart features help people stay focused on what matters most while filtering out less important alerts.
Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode
The new Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode is a standout feature of Apple Intelligence. This mode works as a smart filter for notifications, allowing only important alerts to reach the user while muting less critical ones.
Users can set up this feature by going to Settings > Focus and selecting “Reduce Interruptions.” For iPhone users, they can also tap the Add button at the top right and then tap Reduce Interruptions to begin setup.
The setup process is simple:
- Tap “Customize Focus“
- Select “People” or “Apps”
- Choose which contacts or applications can break through the filter
Mac users can access the same feature through Apple menu > System Settings > Focus.
What makes this mode different from other Focus modes is its use of AI to determine which notifications are truly important. This smart filtering helps users stay productive without missing vital information.
Summary of Key Highlights
Safari now offers smart webpage summaries with Apple Intelligence that help users quickly understand content without reading entire articles. This feature saves time and improves browsing efficiency.
To use this feature on Mac, users can click the Page Menu button in Safari, select Show Reader, and then click Summarize at the top of the page. iPhone users follow a similar process in the Safari app.
The summarization tool works by identifying and extracting the most important information from webpages. It presents this content in a clean, easy-to-read format that cuts through clutter.
In iOS 18.1 Beta 4, Apple made a notable change – the feature now defaults back to “Highlights” output, which can be enabled in the Settings app. This shows Apple’s commitment to refining the feature based on user feedback.
Safari’s summary feature essentially boils webpages down to key points, eliminating the need to search through long articles. It’s particularly useful for:
- News articles
- Research papers
- Long-form content
- Technical documentation
Users can also find additional options for customization in macOS Sequoia, where both Summarize and Highlights features can be fully utilized for an enhanced browsing experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Safari Highlights, powered by Apple Intelligence, brings new ways to browse the web by summarizing content and offering personalized features. These tools can save time and enhance your online experience while balancing convenience with privacy considerations.
What are the advantages of enabling Safari highlights?
Safari Highlights lets you quickly understand webpage content without reading everything. This feature summarizes webpages so you can grasp main points fast.
It saves time when researching or browsing news articles. You can make better decisions about which content deserves your full attention.
The summary appears in an easy-to-read format that focuses on key information only.
How does Safari intelligence enhance user browsing experience?
Safari Intelligence makes browsing faster and more efficient. Users can click the Page Menu button and select Show Reader, then tap “Summarize” to get the main points of any webpage.
The feature works across various types of content including news, blogs, and informational sites. It filters out ads and distractions for a cleaner reading experience.
Safari Intelligence also learns your preferences over time to provide more relevant summaries.
What data is collected by Safari intelligence to provide personalized features?
Apple Intelligence processes browsing data to create personalized summaries. Unlike some competitors, it’s designed to know about you and your life to provide more relevant results.
The system may analyze your browsing habits and interests. This helps it determine what information might be most important to you.
Processing happens on-device when possible to enhance privacy.
Can users opt-out of data collection by Safari intelligence?
Yes, Apple provides options to limit or disable intelligence features. Users can adjust these settings in the Privacy section of their device settings.
The opt-out process is straightforward and respects user choices. Apple designed the system with privacy in mind from the beginning.
Users can still access basic Safari features even if they choose to disable intelligence functions.
How does Safari highlights integrate with Apple’s broader ecosystem?
Safari Highlights works across Apple devices including iPhone and Mac. The feature appears in similar locations across devices – on iPhone, you can find it by tapping the Page Settings button.
Your preferences and settings sync through iCloud. This creates a consistent experience whether you’re using a phone, tablet, or computer.
The system integrates with other Apple services like Siri and Spotlight search.
Are there privacy concerns associated with using Safari intelligence?
Some users worry about how their browsing data is used. Apple addresses this by processing information on-device when possible.
The company emphasizes privacy in its design approach. Users can look for the summary icon on the left side of the address bar to access highlights without sending data to external servers.
Apple’s privacy policy explains how information is used and protected when using these features.
