Apple Intelligence powers new accessibility features: VoiceOver, Magnifier, Voice Control

Apple today previewed a suite of accessibility updates powered by Apple Intelligence, set to launch later this year. Key features include enhanced VoiceOver and Magnifier capabilities, natural language Voice Control, improved Accessibility Reader, and new Apple Vision Pro wheelchair control. VoiceOver's Image Explorer uses Apple Intelligence to provide detailed descriptions of images system-wide, including photos, scanned bills, and personal records. Users can also press the Action button to ask questions about their camera viewfinder and get responses, with follow-up queries in natural language. Magnifier brings the same AI-driven visual description to a high-contrast interface for low-vision users, controllable via spoken requests like 'zoom in' or 'turn on flashlight'.

Voice Control becomes more intuitive with natural language input, allowing users with physical disabilities to navigate iPhone and iPad by describing onscreen elements—e.g., 'tap the guide about best restaurants' or 'tap the purple folder'—instead of memorizing exact labels. Accessibility Reader now handles complex source material like scientific articles with multiple columns, images, and tables, offering on-demand summaries. Additionally, Apple Vision Pro users will gain eye-tracking control for compatible power wheelchairs, and the entire Apple ecosystem will support on-device generated subtitles for uncaptioned video content. All updates are designed with privacy by design, processing data on-device where possible.