iOS 18.4 Beta 2 – Apple is Testing Review Summaries on the App Store

Highlights

• Apple is testing iOS 18.4 Beta 2 with a Review Summary feature in the App Store.
• The feature uses AI to provide quick summaries of user reviews using large language models (LLMs).
• The update is currently available to beta testers and is expected to roll out globally in April.

Apple is currently testing iOS 18.4 before its expected global rollout in April. The latest beta 2 version brings several new features including Visual Intelligence for iPhone 15 Pro models. One of the most interesting additions is “Review Summary,” an AI-powered feature in the App Store that provides a quick summary of user reviews.

Here’s what we know so far about the feature.

iOS 18.4 Beta 2 – What is the Review Summary Feature?

First spotted by Macworld in the recent beta release, the Review Summary feature analyses user reviews and creates a short and informative summary, which basically saves users from having to scroll through endless feedback.

Apple’s AI technology is powered by large language models (LLMs) and can carefully select key points from reviews to help users decide whether an app or game is worth downloading.

Based on multiple reports, a few key details about this feature are as follows –

• Summaries are updated weekly to reflect new revi
• The feature only appears if an app or game has enough reviews (though Apple hasn’t disclosed the exact number required).
• Currently, it’s only available in English in the US, but Apple plans to expand it to more languages and regions in the future.

TechCrunch report highlights, “Apple is not the only tech giant to look to AI for analyzing reviews. Amazon introduced AI summaries for product reviews on its platform back in 2023. Google’s Gemini AI can also be used for product review summaries, as one developer tutorial explains. The company also added AI-powered review summaries in Google Maps last year.”

The AI summaries are currently available to beta testers with the latest release (iOS 18.4, beta 2 and iPadOS 18.4, beta 2). The iOS 18.4 update is expected to roll out globally in April this year. What this means is that we won’t have to wait long to see how this feature improves the App Store experience.

FAQs

Q1. What is the App store Review Summary feature in iOS 18.4 Beta 2?

Answer. The “Review Summary” feature is an AI-powered addition to the App Store that provides quick summaries of user reviews. This feature analyzes user reviews and creates short, informative summaries to help users decide whether an app or game is worth downloading.

Q2. How does Apple’s App Store Review Summary feature work?

Answer. The feature uses large language models (LLMs) to carefully select key points from reviews. Summaries are updated weekly to reflect new reviews. It is currently only available in English in the US and will appear if an app or game has enough reviews.

Q2. When will the iOS 18.4 update roll out globally?

Answer. The iOS 18.4 update, including the “Review Summary” feature, is expected to roll out globally in April this year. The feature is currently available to beta testers with the latest release (iOS 18.4, beta 2 and iPadOS 18.4, beta 2).

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