Siri was supposed to be the future. Apple Intelligence is the tech giant’s attempt to finally deliver it.
Since its initial launch on iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 in October 2024, Apple has rolled out a suite of generative AI features across its devices. With the arrival of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, and visionOS 2.4, those capabilities now extend to Apple Watch, AirPods (most H2-powered models), and Vision Pro as well. But unlike rivals that center AI around chatbots, Apple embeds intelligence directly into the operating system itself.
The result is less about opening an app and more about interacting with your device as a whole. From rewriting emails and prioritizing notifications to generating images and responding more contextually through Siri, Apple Intelligence is designed to make everyday interactions faster, more intuitive, and increasingly personalized, all while keeping user data tightly controlled.
What does Apple Intelligence do?
Apple Intelligence is an umbrella term for on-device generative AI features. While not an extensive list, here are its biggest capabilities:
- Writing Tools: Rewrite, proofread, and summarize text natively across apps, or give a custom instruction such as “turn into a poem.” These work in Mail, Messages, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.
- Priority Notifications: AI scans your alerts, messages, and Apple Mail, bumping the most time-sensitive information to the top.
- Advanced photo editing and sorting: Includes natural language search, the “Clean Up” tool to remove unwanted background elements, and memory movie creation.
- Genmoji: Users can create their own emoji by typing a description and can use image prompts from their Photo Library.
- Image Playground: An AI image generation app that can take text or image prompts. Users can describe or send a picture of a specific art style to apply to their work.
- Image Wand: Turns a rough sketch into a polished image.
- A smarter Siri: A more conversational, versatile attitude with the ability to control device settings and understand on-screen context.
- Visual Intelligence: Analyze real-world objects using your camera (like identifying a plant or translating text) or take action on anything you capture in a screenshot (like shopping for similar products to purchase or adding events to a calendar).
- Live Translation: Translate Messages text and Phone and FaceTime audio in real time across devices (including on AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro 2 and later, and AirPods Max 2). Written messages are translated into the target language as they are typed or received, while translations of what is being said during a FaceTime call appear in real-time captions and are read aloud.
- Workout Buddy: An AI coach that adapts to your Apple Watch health data, such as heart rate and pace, in real time. An AI voice can provide personalized, motivational insights as the user runs, walks, cycles, or engages in a HIIT or functional fitness workout.
- AI-powered shortcuts: Automations that can analyze content before acting. AI-powered actions can do things like analyze a voice recording or automatically add only the new information to an existing document.
- ChatGPT integration: OpenAI’s powerful chatbot can be used with Writing Tools and Siri without switching to a browser or app.
Other features include Smart Reply in Mail and Messages, priority messages in Mail, voicemail summaries, transcription summaries in Notes, suggested reminders, a Reduce Interruptions focus and Intelligent Breakthrough and Silencing focus, Intelligent Poll Creation and background creation in Messages, and enhanced order tracking in Wallet.
Tasks can begin on one device and continue on another, with AI context preserved across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro. This cross-device continuity lets you draft content on a Mac, refine it on an iPhone, and execute actions with Siri without losing context.
How does Apple Intelligence work?
Apple Intelligence runs on the Neural Engine inside Apple’s A-series and M-series chips. Processing happens on-device whenever possible; when larger models are needed, requests are routed through Apple’s Private Cloud Compute and stripped of identifying data so Apple cannot store or view it.
Users may choose to let Siri or Writing Tools access ChatGPT for more complex queries. You must opt in by enabling the ChatGPT extension, and your IP address is obscured. If you use this feature without an account, neither Apple nor OpenAI stores your requests or uses them to train models. However, if you choose to sign in to a personal ChatGPT account, your requests fall under OpenAI’s standard privacy policies and may be saved to your history or used for training, depending on your account settings.
Which devices have Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence requires a modern neural engine. Supported hardware includes:
- iPhone models with A17 Pro, A18-series, or A19-series chips (this includes the iPhone 15 Pro, the entire iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 families, and the iPad Air).
- Macs and iPads with M1, M2, M3, M4, or the latest M5 processors (as well as the iPad mini with an A17 Pro chip).
- H2-based AirPods (AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro 2 and later, and AirPods Max 2) for audio-only features such as Live Translation.
- Apple Vision Pro running visionOS 2.4 or later.
Because Apple Intelligence is tied closely to newer chip architectures, it signals a broader shift in how Apple differentiates its devices. AI capabilities are becoming a key driver of hardware upgrades. This means users with older devices may need to upgrade not just for performance, but to access next-generation software features.
Will Apple Intelligence come to older phones?
No. Devices with hardware older than the ones listed above don’t have suitable chips to run Apple Intelligence.
When did Apple Intelligence launch?
Apple Intelligence launched in October 2024 with limited features on iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. It rolled out later in the EU due to DMA regulations, becoming first available on iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 (though it still first appeared on macOS Sequoia 15.1).
New features have been added with subsequent iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia 15 software updates, as well as with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26, and they continue to roll out.
How much does Apple Intelligence cost?
Apple Intelligence is included free with a software update on supported devices.
What regions and languages does it work with?
At launch, Apple Intelligence spoke only a handful of languages. As of iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS 26.1, Apple Intelligence on compatible iPhone, iPad, and Mac models supports English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese languages.
With the latest software, most Apple Intelligence features are available across regions worldwide, except in China (where Apple Intelligence doesn’t work at all). Feature availability will vary based on the device, software, language, and region.
Is Siri artificial intelligence?
Before Apple Intelligence, Siri was considered a basic form of AI (specifically, a digital assistant). It executed operations based on preset commands and functions, but it wasn’t “generative AI” because it couldn’t create or remix content. Today, Siri is a hybrid. It incorporates generative AI to understand on-screen context and hold more natural, flexible conversations, but it still relies on traditional assistant logic to reliably execute everyday tasks on your device.
How do I add Apple Intelligence to my iPhone?
Apple Intelligence will work as long as the right software is installed. To check for software updates manually on iPhone or iPad, visit Settings > General > Software Update and install version 18.1 or later (or 26.0 or later).
On a Mac, open the Apple menu, then navigate to System Settings > General > Software Update and update to macOS Sequoia 15.1 or later (or macOS Tahoe 26.0 or later).
How do I activate Apple Intelligence?
During the installation of at least iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or macOS Sequoia 15.1, you’ll be prompted to turn Apple Intelligence on or off via the onscreen instructions. If you opt out during installation, you can visit Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri (iPhone, iPad) or System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri (Mac) and toggle the setting on.
What are the competitors to Apple Intelligence?
Samsung and Google have both integrated generative AI into their newest phones.
Samsung brands its features Galaxy AI, which is heavily integrated into the Galaxy S24 series and newer. Google’s Gemini first appeared on the Pixel 8 Pro and now powers the Pixel 9 and 10 families. All three tech giants pitch on-device processing and privacy, but Apple remains the only one that exposes a single intelligence layer across phones, tablets, computers, wearables, and spatial-computing headsets.
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on our sister publication, TechRepublic.
