Apple Intelligence (commonly searched as “Apple AI”) represents Apple’s comprehensive artificial intelligence system, now fully integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. If you’re wondering what Apple Intelligence can do, which devices support it, or whether it’s free—you’ve come to the right place.
What Is Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence is Apple’s AI-powered system designed to enhance productivity and creativity across Apple devices while prioritizing user privacy. Rather than being a standalone app, it’s a suite of features integrated throughout the operating system.
Key highlights:
- Announced at WWDC 2024
- Available globally as of 2025
- Free for all users with compatible devices
- Processes data either on-device or via Private Cloud Compute for privacy
What Can Apple Intelligence Do?
Apple Intelligence offers several AI-powered capabilities that enhance how you interact with your device:
Writing Tools
Writing Tools help you craft better content by offering:
- Text summarization for emails, messages, and documents
- Proofreading capabilities
- Rewriting options to refine your text
Image Playground
Image Playground lets you:
- Create original images from text descriptions
- Generate images in different styles (Animation, Illustration)
- Transform your sketches into polished visuals
- Choose themes like fantasy or forest for image generation
Clean Up Tool
The Clean Up tool in Photos allows you to:
- Remove unwanted objects or people from photos
- Enhance image focus by eliminating distractions
- Process edits directly on your device for privacy
Genmoji
Genmoji enables you to:
- Create custom emojis from text descriptions
- Generate personalized emoji reactions (e.g., “smiling avocado”)
- Use custom emojis across Messages and other apps
Siri Enhancements
Siri improvements include:
- More conversational interactions
- Better contextual understanding
- Note: Some advanced Siri features have been delayed to 2026
How Does Apple Intelligence Work?
Apple Intelligence uses a hybrid approach that balances performance and privacy:
- On-device processing handles simpler tasks directly on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, keeping data local.
- Private Cloud Compute manages more complex requests using Apple silicon servers without storing your data.
This architecture ensures your information remains private while delivering powerful AI capabilities.
Which Devices Support Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence requires specific hardware capabilities to function properly:
| Device Type | Supported Models | Minimum Software |
| iPhone | iPhone 16 series, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max (A17 Pro chip or later) | iOS 18.1+ |
| iPad | iPad Pro/Air with M1 or later, iPad mini with A17 Pro | iPadOS 18.1+ |
| Mac | All Macs with M-series chips (M1, M2, etc.) | macOS Sequoia 15.1+ |
| Apple Vision Pro | Apple Vision Pro (M2) | visionOS 2.4+ |
Will Apple Intelligence Work on iPhone 15?
Apple Intelligence works only on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models, which have the A17 Pro chip. The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus (with A16 Bionic) are not supported.
Will Apple Intelligence Work on iPhone 14 or iPhone 13?
No, Apple Intelligence is not supported on iPhone 14 or iPhone 13 models as they use older A15 Bionic chips that lack the necessary Neural Engine capabilities and RAM requirements.
Will Apple Intelligence Come to iPhone 14?
It’s highly unlikely that Apple Intelligence will ever be available on iPhone 14 models due to hardware limitations. The features require the A17 Pro chip or later.
Where Is Apple Intelligence Available?
Geographic Availability
As of 2025, Apple Intelligence is available worldwide, including:
- United States and Canada
- European Union (including Ireland)
- India
- Asia-Pacific regions
- And most other countries
When Did Apple Intelligence Become Available in Europe and India?
Apple Intelligence launched in the European Union (including Ireland) and India on March 31, 2025, with iOS 18.4, after resolving regulatory compliance issues.
Where to Find Apple Intelligence on Your Device
Apple Intelligence isn’t a standalone app but is integrated across your system:
- Photos app: Access the Clean Up tool
- Messages: Use Image Playground and Genmoji
- Notes: Summarize text or generate images
- Settings: Find Privacy & Security > Apple Intelligence & Siri
How to Use Apple Intelligence
Getting started with Apple Intelligence is simple:
- Ensure compatibility: Verify you have a supported device with the minimum required software
- Access features in apps:
- In Photos: Select an image and look for the Clean Up option
- In Messages: Tap the + button and choose Image Playground
- In text fields: Look for the summarize or rewrite options
- Customize settings: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Intelligence & Siri
How to Use Apple Intelligence for Emojis (Genmoji)
To create custom emojis with Genmoji:
- Open Messages or another app with text input
- Type a description of your desired emoji (e.g., “smiling avocado”)
- Look for the Genmoji suggestion or tap the emoji button
- Select your generated custom emoji to insert it
Are Apple Intelligence Features Free?
Yes, Apple Intelligence features are completely free for all users with supported devices. There are no subscription fees or in-app purchases required to access any Apple Intelligence capabilities.
The only requirement is owning a compatible device (iPhone 15 Pro/16, newer iPads with M-chips, or Macs with M-series processors) and updating to the required software version.
Can Apple Intelligence Be Turned Off?
Yes, if you prefer not to use Apple Intelligence, you can disable it:
- Go to Settings on your device
- Navigate to Privacy & Security
- Select Apple Intelligence & Siri
- Toggle off Apple Intelligence features
This gives you control over which AI features are active on your device.
Criticism and Limitations
While Apple Intelligence offers impressive capabilities, it has faced some criticism:
- Feature delays: Some advanced Siri features were delayed until 2026
- Initial limitations: Early implementations of features like text summarization were considered basic by some users
- Hardware requirements: Unavailability on older devices has disappointed some Apple customers
Despite these critiques, Apple Intelligence has been widely praised for its privacy-focused approach and seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem.
Who Is in the Apple Intelligence Commercial?
The Apple Intelligence commercials feature Bella Ramsey, the acclaimed actress known for roles in “Game of Thrones” and “The Last of Us.” The ads showcase various Apple Intelligence features in humorous scenarios.
Will Apple Intelligence Improve?
Based on Apple’s history of product refinement, Apple Intelligence is expected to improve significantly over time through software updates. Future improvements may include:
- Enhanced Siri capabilities
- Expanded language support
- More sophisticated image generation
- Additional creative tools
- Deeper third-party app integration
Apple typically refines its technologies through regular updates, addressing limitations and adding new functionality.
Conclusion
Apple Intelligence represents a significant step in bringing AI capabilities to Apple’s ecosystem while maintaining the company’s commitment to privacy. While not without limitations, it offers valuable tools for productivity, creativity, and device interaction.
As AI technology evolves and Apple releases updates, we can expect Apple Intelligence to become an increasingly integral part of the Apple experience, with expanded capabilities and improved performance.
For users with compatible devices, Apple Intelligence provides a free, privacy-focused way to leverage AI for daily tasks—from writing and photo editing to image creation and custom emojis.