Apple's new AI-powered document scanner is coming to the latest iPads via a special day-one software update

Apple’s new AI-powered document scanner is coming to the latest iPads via a special day-one software update

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 14, 2024

The new M4 iPad Pro and the M2 iPad Air will gain Apple’s new document scanner powered by artifical intellgience (A) via a special day-one software update.

As noted by Aaron Perris on X, Apple didn’t release iPadOS 17.5 for the latest iPads. Instead, the new M2 iPad Air and M4 iPad Pro will arrive with 17.4 preinstalled, with a day-one software update available immediately in Settings.

It’s the same update as the iPadOS 17.5 version released on May 13 but with a different build number: 21F84. Apple’s release notes for iPadOS 17.5 mention things like the News app improvements and cross-platform tracking detection. However, this special iPadOS 17.5 build also includes an improved document scanner.

New iPads bring  enhanced document scanning

According to Perris, iPadOS 17.5 will be available on the new iPad Air and iPad Pro when they arrive, with the following release notes:

Apple News+
● Offline mode in Apple News+ gives you access to the Today feed and News+ tab, even when you don’t have an internet connection
● Quartiles is a new and original daily word game that is now available in Apple News+
● Scoreboard in News+ Puzzles gives you access to new player data for Crossword, Mini Crossword and Quartiles, including stats and streaks

Tracking Notifications
● Cross-Platform Tracking Detection delivers notifications to users if a compatible Bluetooth tracker they do not own is moving with them, regardless of what operating system the device is paired with

Document Scanning
● Document scanning is improved on the new iPad Air and iPad Pro

Apple says the new document scanner uses artificial intelligence to remove shadows from scans. Apple explains that if a shadow is in the way, the device takes multiple photos and stitches the best parts together, resulting in a superior scan.

Where can you use the improved document scanner?

This feature is available anywhere you can use the built-in document scanner, like Notes and the Files app. It’s coming to third-party apps, too. And for the first time, the built-in document scanner is available from within the Camera app, with AI technology automatically identifying documents in the viewfinder.

The M2 iPad Air has regular True Tone flash. Apple hasn’t said whether an enhanced document scanner strictly requires the new iPad Pro’s adaptive flash. The improved scanner works on both new iPads, which suggests it doesn’t need the new adaptive flash hardware which is only available on the new iPad Pro.

Tags Apple iPad iPad Air iPad Pro iPadOS iPadOS 17 Software Update
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