iOS 18.2 Introduces Natural Language Search for Apple Music and TV App

In recent testing of iOS 18.2, Apple has rolled out numerous new features centered around Apple Intelligence, including Genmoji and Image Playground. Among these updates is a noteworthy enhancement for Apple Music and Apple TV users: the introduction of natural language search functionality.

Natural language search features for Apple Music and Apple TV app

This feature was officially announced by Apple in the release notes for the iOS 18.2 RC, which were made available to developers and beta testers on Thursday. According to the notes, both Apple Music and the Apple TV app now support natural language search, allowing users to articulate their queries without needing to know the exact title of a song, movie, or series.

“The natural language search capability in Apple Music and the Apple TV app enables users to explain what they’re seeking using various categories, such as genres, moods, actors, decades, and more,” states the update description for iOS 18.2 RC.

Users can try searches like “nostalgic hits from the 90s” or “songs like Espresso.” Additionally, this search feature integrates with Siri, allowing voice commands such as “play songs featuring epic guitar solos.” While users could previously search Apple Music by lyrics when they couldn’t recall a song’s title, this new feature now further expands search capabilities. Currently, it only supports English, similar to other Apple Intelligence functionalities.

With the release of iOS 18.1, Apple had already introduced natural language search in the Photos app, enabling easier retrieval of photos or videos based on specific phrases. For instance, users can now find pictures of someone wearing a blue sweater. In tests I’ve conducted, the Photos app can even identify videos taken from an airplane window when searching for “airplanes,” which was previously not feasible.

The public rollout of iOS 18.2 is expected within the next few days. It’s important to note that Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, or iPads with the M1 chip or later.

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