This past fall, Apple rolled out the first Apple Intelligence features to compatible iPhones, iPads and Macs. Some of these AI features were helpful, particularly the writing tools. Others, like Notification Summaries, have proved to be less so.
Since its initial release, Apple has slowly added more features that take advantage of Apple Intelligence. The last batch arrived with iOS 18.3 — launched today — and added a pretty cool feature for using your iPhone’s camera to identify plants and animals (but it only works if you have an iPhone 16/Pro).
If you wear an Apple Watch, however, you might feel left out of the party. That’s because Apple still hasn’t released any exclusive Apple Intelligence features for its smartwatch. And while that is still technically true today, there is a bit of a workaround.
That’s because your Apple Watch can use two Apple Intelligence features—but only if it is tethered to one of the latest iPhones that supports them. The first is Notification Summaries, which, as widely reported, is more frustrating than useful. The second is Reduce Interruptions.
What is Reduce Interruptions?
Reduce Interruptions is a new setting within Focus mode, which was introduced several years ago — with iOS 15 — to give you more control over what notifications your iPhone receives while doing various activities (such as sleeping or working).
With the new Reduce Interruptions setting turned on, your iPhone will use Apple Intelligence to determine if a notification is “important.” If so, it’ll then push through that notification to you even if Focus Mode is turned on.
