Apple has introduced a new feature called Apple Intelligence in its operating systems macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. Currently, it is still in the beta phase, which means there might be some issues in everyday use. Despite this, Apple has decided to enable the main switch for this feature by default, which previously had to be activated by the user. This change is detailed in the release notes for iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS 15.3, which were released with the candidate version earlier this week. These updates are expected to be available in the coming days.
Apple has shifted from an opt-in model to an opt-out model for Apple Intelligence. For users who are new to iOS 18.3 or have upgraded to it, Apple Intelligence will be automatically enabled during the iPhone setup process. A similar approach is taken with macOS 15.3. Previously, users had to manually activate Apple Intelligence through a switch in the system settings. Although the main switch still exists, users now need to turn it off if they do not want to use the service.
The usual loading processes for Apple Intelligence’s local models, which take up storage space, will continue but will now start automatically. These processes are necessary for both the language model services (“Writing Tools”) and the image generators (“Genmoji”, “Image Playground”). Users will have direct access to Apple Intelligence functions after setting up their device. To deactivate Apple Intelligence, users must navigate to the ‘Apple Intelligence & Siri’ settings and switch off Apple Intelligence. This action will disable the Apple Intelligence features on their device.
The automatic activation is likely intended to encourage more users to try Apple Intelligence. However, potentially problematic features, such as notification summaries, are not automatically enabled by default. Apple had to backtrack on this feature after several issues, initially disabling it for messaging apps to avoid AI-generated fake news.
Mac users can now use the Genmoji function with macOS 15.3, allowing them to create their own AI-supported emojis, a feature previously available only for mobile devices. Additionally, the Visual Intelligence feature on iOS has been improved, running on the iPhone 16. This feature allows users to scan data and add it to their calendar, for example, when focusing on an event poster.
Currently, Apple Intelligence is only available in English, and the device must be set accordingly. In the EU, the release is expected in April, along with a version in German.