Apple is playing the long game with generative AI features, rather than rushing to add AI pilots to its devices like its rival Microsoft has done. Instead, Apple’s upcoming generative AI features aim to fulfill the promise Siri made a decade ago: a human-like assistant that makes using devices more intuitive. It also adds well-known generative AI features, such as image generation on smartphones.
What does Apple Intelligence do?
Apple Intelligence is an umbrella term for a variety of generative AI capabilities that can operate on Apple devices. These include:
- Generative writing tool.
- Automatic summary.
- Smart prioritization of notifications and emails.
- Photo editing.
- Automatic photo alignment.
- The ability to control some settings on your phone using voice commands.
- Siri has become more conversational and can communicate in a variety of ways.
How does Apple Intelligence work?
Apple Intelligence is powered by Apple’s own A17 Pro, A18, A18 Pro, M1, or M2 chips, which include neural network components that run generative tasks on-device. Some of the processing-intensive generative AI tasks on iPhone are offloaded to Private Cloud Compute, a gateway between the phone and OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
View: Check out our roundup of everything you need to know about the iPhone 16.
Which devices are available with Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence runs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iOS 18.1 or later. Here’s the full list of devices:
| iPhone 16 (A18) iPhone 16 Plus (A18) iPhone 16 Pro Max (A18 Pro) iPhone 16 Pro (A18 Pro) iPhone 15 Pro Max (A17 Pro) |
iPhone 15 Pro (A17 Pro) iPad Pro (M1 or later) iPad Air (M1 or later) MacBook Air (M1 or later) MacBook Pro (M1 or later) |
iMac (M1 or later) Mac mini (M1 or later) Mac Studio (M1 Max or later) Mac Pro (M2 Ultra) |
Apple Intelligence is not available in China and may be restricted in the EU.
Will Apple Intelligence come to older phones?
No. Devices with hardware older than those listed above do not have chips suitable for running Apple Intelligence.
How much does Apple Intelligence cost?
Apple Intelligence is available for free via a software upgrade on supported devices.
When was Apple Intelligence released?
As of September 2024, Apple Intelligence is available for preview in the iOS 18.1 beta release. The full release is scheduled for October. However, not all Apple Intelligence features will be available then. The first to be released are writing tools, photo features, audio support in Summary and Notes, interruption reduction, priority messages, and Smart Reply in Mail, and improvements to Siri.
Later this year and in the coming months, Apple will be introducing more image editing features, improved personal context and screen recognition for Siri interactions, and global knowledge powered by ChatGPT.
Apple Intelligence will initially launch in U.S. English. Localized English will be available in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. in December. Other languages, including Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish, will be available next year.
Is Siri an artificial intelligence?
It depends on how you define the term. Before the upgrade from Apple Intelligence, Siri could be called artificial intelligence, but not generative AI. Siri didn’t remix content, but instead simply performed tasks.
Some argue that these computing capabilities should not be considered AI, because the term implies a science fiction level of human-like intelligence that algorithms, no matter how advanced, will never achieve. However, “AI” has become a widely accepted term for a certain type of computing. Still, it would be more accurate to call Siri a digital assistant rather than a true AI.
After Apple Intelligence was upgraded in iOS 18.1 or later beta, it may now be more accurate to call Siri a generative AI.
How to add Apple Intelligence to your iPhone?
Apple Intelligence will be available as an automatic software update for eligible iPhones in October. To manually check for software updates, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
How do I enable Apple Intelligence?
Starting in September 2024, iPhone users who update to iOS 18.1 can join the waitlist to be the first to receive Apple Intelligence. Go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Join the Apple Intelligence Waitlist.
Who are Apple Intelligence’s competitors?
Both Samsung and Google have integrated generative AI into their latest phones. The Google Pixel 9 series, released in August, uses Google Gemini for photo editing, summarizing, and conversation. The Samsung Galaxy S24 series, released earlier this year, also uses Google Gemini and other Google AI products for similar functions.
