What are new App Intent capabilities in iOS 18?

In iOS 18, Apple has introduced several new capabilities for App Intents, enhancing their integration with Siri and other system experiences. Here are some of the key updates:

1. Expanded App Intents: Previously, app intents were meant for the most habitual tasks in your app. In iOS 18, this guidance has changed to include a broader range of functionalities. Now, anything your app does can be an app intent, allowing for more comprehensive integration with system experiences like Siri and Shortcuts.

2. New Siri Capabilities: Siri can now invoke any item from your app's menus, enhancing its ability to interact with your app's features. This is part of a broader effort to make Siri more conversational and capable of understanding context better.

3. App Intent Domains: Apple has introduced new App Intent domains, which are collections of APIs designed for specific functionalities like books, camera, or spreadsheets. In iOS 18, twelve domains are being released, with Mail and Photos available immediately.

4. Spotlight Integration: New APIs allow you to index your app entities in Spotlight, bringing powerful semantic search capabilities to your app.

5. Personal Context: Apple Intelligence equips Siri with a rich understanding of personal context, allowing it to search and reason over information across your device in a safe and private way.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the sessions like Design App Intents for system experiences and Bring your app to Siri.