Apple Intelligence: Everything You Need to Know About Apple’s AI Model and Services

Apple has officially entered the AI race with Apple Intelligence, integrated into its ecosystem starting in October 2024. Branded as “AI for the rest of us” by Cupertino marketing executives, Apple Intelligence aims to enhance existing features by leveraging text and image generation. It competes directly with platforms like ChatGPT and Google Gemini.

The AI is trained on large information models utilizing deep learning to make connections across text, images, video, and music. This manifests in features like Writing Tools, available across Mail, Messages, Pages, and Notifications, which summarizes text, proofreads, and composes messages based on user prompts.

Image generation is another key component, allowing users to generate custom emojis (Genmojis) and create visual content via the standalone Image Playground app, which can be used in Messages, Keynote, and social media.

Siri has received a significant overhaul with deeper integration across Apple’s operating systems. Users will see a glowing light around the edge of their iPhone screen when Siri is active. The updated Siri works across apps, allowing users to edit photos and insert them directly into text messages, and uses onscreen awareness to provide contextually relevant answers.

Visual Intelligence helps users perform image searches for items they see while browsing, and the Live Translation feature translates conversations in real time within Messages, FaceTime, and Phone apps. These features are expected to be available later in 2025 with the launch of iOS 26.

Apple Intelligence was first unveiled at WWDC 2024, amidst growing concerns that Apple was falling behind in the generative AI boom. Rather than a standalone feature, Apple Intelligence integrates into existing offerings, operating behind the scenes to provide new features for existing apps.

During Apple’s iPhone 16 event in September 2024, the company highlighted AI-powered features coming to its devices, including translation on the Apple Watch Series 10, visual search on iPhones, and enhancements to Siri. The initial rollout of Apple Intelligence began in late October 2024 with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, starting with U.S. English and expanding to other English-speaking regions. Support for additional languages will arrive in 2025.

Apple Intelligence is available on iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, iPad Pro (M1 and later), iPad Air (M1 and later), iPad mini (A17 or later), and Macs with M1 chips or later. Only the Pro versions of the iPhone 15 support the initial release due to chipset limitations.

Apple uses a small-model approach to training its AI, allowing many tasks to be performed on-device without an internet connection. More complex queries use Private Cloud Compute, where remote servers running on Apple Silicon maintain user privacy. The shift between local and cloud processing is seamless unless the device is offline.

Apple has partnered with OpenAI to offer ChatGPT integration. It supplements Siri’s knowledge base and enhances Writing Tools. ChatGPT integration, available from iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2, allows users to access premium ChatGPT features. Users can prompt Siri to use ChatGPT directly and leverage the Compose feature for content generation within any app that supports Writing Tools. Future partnerships may include Google Gemini.

At WWDC 2025, Apple introduced the Foundation Models framework, allowing developers to integrate AI features into third-party apps using Apple’s on-device AI models. This will enable developers to create personalized quizzes and other smart experiences without cloud API costs, protecting user privacy.