CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA – Apple is currently working on enhancing its Safari web browser with new features, including advanced content blocking capabilities and an AI-powered tool known as Intelligent Search. The upcoming Safari 18 update, set to be released later this year, is undergoing evaluation alongside Apple’s next-generation operating systems, iOS 18 and macOS 15. If these new features pass the testing phase, users can expect a revamped user interface, a “Web eraser” feature, and AI-driven content summarization tools.
One of the key highlights of Safari 18 is the Intelligent Search feature, which leverages Apple’s on-device AI technology to identify key phrases within a webpage for summarization. Apple’s AI technology, specifically the Ajax language-learning model, assists in selecting sentences for summarization based on the content of the text. This move aligns with Apple’s focus on privacy and security, utilizing on-device models to enhance user experience.
Another exciting feature in Safari 18 is the Web Eraser, which allows users to selectively remove unwanted content from web pages. This persistent erasure feature ensures that users can customize their browsing experience by eliminating banner ads, images, text, or entire page sections. The integration of Web Eraser aims to provide users with greater control over their online content consumption while maintaining privacy.
Moreover, the updated user interface in Safari 18 consolidates various page control options into a single menu, making it easier for users to access essential tools such as content blocking, extension shortcuts, and the new AI and erasure features. By unifying these controls in the Address Bar, Apple intends to streamline the browsing experience and enhance user convenience across different devices running Safari.
Looking ahead, Apple is also exploring the development of an AI-enhanced Visual Lookup feature scheduled for potential integration in 2025. This feature aims to enable users to obtain information on consumer products by browsing through images, expanding the capabilities of Siri’s existing Visual Lookup feature. While the details of this tool are still in the works, it demonstrates Apple’s continued investment in artificial intelligence and user-centric innovation.
As Apple continues to push the boundaries of browser technology and AI integration, Safari 18 represents another milestone in the evolution of web browsing. With a focus on user privacy, content customization, and enhanced browsing experience, Apple’s latest updates to Safari are poised to compete effectively in a landscape filled with generative AI tools and ad-blocker solutions. Stay tuned for more updates on Safari 18 and other upcoming enhancements as Apple prepares to unveil its latest innovations at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June.