Apple Intelligence is Apple’s artificial intelligence system built into iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro. It brings AI-powered features into apps and everyday tasks, including writing, image generation, photo editing, translation, notifications, Siri and more.
Apple introduced Apple Intelligence with iOS 18 in 2024 and has continued expanding it with subsequent software updates. With iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27 and visionOS 27, Apple is taking the platform further with a new generation of Apple Intelligence features and the redesigned Siri AI experience.
What Is Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence is Apple’s built-in AI platform for its devices. Rather than being a standalone chatbot or app, it is integrated throughout Apple’s operating systems and the apps people use every day.
Apple Intelligence can understand and generate text, create images, summarize information, edit photos, translate conversations, prioritize notifications and help users interact with their devices in more natural ways.
Some features run directly on the device, while more demanding requests can use Apple’s Private Cloud Compute infrastructure.
The system is designed around Apple’s approach to privacy, with Apple using on-device processing whenever possible and Private Cloud Compute for requests that require additional processing power.
Apple Intelligence Features
The first generation of Apple Intelligence introduced a collection of AI features across iPhone, iPad and Mac. Many of these features remain available today, with Apple continuing to improve them through software updates.
Writing Tools
Writing Tools lets you rewrite, proofread and summarize text across supported apps.
You can use Apple Intelligence to change the tone of a message, make writing more concise, correct grammar or summarize a longer piece of text.
Writing Tools can also work with third-party apps that support Apple’s system frameworks.
Genmoji
Genmoji lets you create custom emoji using a description.
Instead of choosing only from Apple’s existing emoji collection, you can describe the emoji you want and Apple Intelligence generates a new one.
You can also create Genmoji based on people in your Photos library where supported.
Image Playground
Image Playground lets you generate images from descriptions and predefined concepts.
It is designed for quick image creation and experimentation and works with different visual styles and concepts.
Apple has continued expanding Image Playground with the next generation of Apple Intelligence in iOS 27 and other 2026 software updates.
Image Wand
Image Wand can turn rough sketches and written ideas into images.
On supported iPad models, you can use it inside apps such as Notes to transform a sketch or selected area into a more polished image.
Clean Up
Clean Up uses Apple Intelligence to remove unwanted objects from photos.
You can select an unwanted person or object and Apple Intelligence attempts to remove it while reconstructing the background.
Visual Intelligence
Visual Intelligence allows compatible iPhones to understand information through the camera and on-screen content.
It can recognize objects, understand text and provide information about what you’re looking at.
Apple has expanded Visual Intelligence with newer software updates, giving it access to more actions and integrations.
Notification Summaries
Apple Intelligence can summarize groups of notifications so you can quickly understand what happened without opening every notification individually.
This can be particularly useful for busy conversations, emails and other apps that generate large numbers of alerts.
Priority Notifications
Apple Intelligence can identify notifications that may be more important and place them higher in the notification stack.
This makes it easier to see alerts that may require immediate attention.
Reduce Interruptions
Reduce Interruptions is an Apple Intelligence-powered Focus mode that attempts to identify notifications that may require immediate attention.
Less important notifications can be filtered while important alerts are surfaced.
Mail Summaries
Apple Intelligence can summarize emails and help identify messages that may require attention.
Mail can also surface priority messages so users can find important emails more quickly.
Smart Reply
Smart Reply provides suggested responses in supported apps such as Mail and Messages.
Instead of writing a response from scratch, you can choose from suggested replies when the feature is available.
Live Translation
Apple Intelligence powers Live Translation across supported communication experiences.
It can translate supported conversations in Messages, Phone and FaceTime, although availability varies depending on the device, language and region.
ChatGPT Integration
Apple Intelligence can use ChatGPT for certain requests when Apple’s own models are not the best fit.
Users are asked for permission before ChatGPT is used, and the integration can provide additional answers through Siri, Writing Tools and other supported experiences.
ChatGPT is an optional integration. It is not the same thing as Apple Intelligence.
What’s New in Apple Intelligence With iOS 27?
iOS 27 introduces the next generation of Apple Intelligence.
The biggest addition is Siri AI, but Apple is also expanding AI capabilities across Photos, Safari, Image Playground, Messages, Mail and Shortcuts.
Siri AI
Siri AI is Apple’s redesigned version of Siri, powered by the next generation of Apple Intelligence.
It is designed to understand more natural conversations, maintain context between requests, understand what’s on the screen and take actions across apps.
Siri AI can also use personal context to search across information such as messages, emails and photos. It can use broader web knowledge to provide up-to-date answers, while a dedicated Siri app allows users to revisit previous conversations.
Personal Context
Siri AI can understand information across supported apps to provide more personalized answers.
For example, Apple says Siri can find information from messages, emails and photos when responding to a request.
This moves Siri beyond answering isolated questions toward understanding the information already available on your device.
On-Screen Awareness
Siri AI can understand the content currently displayed on your screen.
This means you can ask Siri about something you’re viewing without manually explaining or copying the information.
Systemwide App Actions
Apple is expanding Siri’s ability to perform actions across apps.
Instead of simply providing an answer, Siri AI can help complete tasks such as drafting an email or editing and sharing photos.
New Photo Editing Features
Apple Intelligence gains new photo editing capabilities in iOS 27.
One of the headline additions is Spatial Reframing, which lets users change the composition of a photo after it has already been captured.
Apple is also expanding AI-powered image editing and generation capabilities in Photos.
New Image Playground Features
Image Playground gets more advanced image creation and editing capabilities in iOS 27.
Users can describe changes they want to make to an image using natural language, giving Image Playground a more flexible editing experience.
Smarter Safari
Apple Intelligence is also being integrated more deeply into Safari.
The new capabilities are designed to help users manage information across multiple tabs and interact with web content more intelligently.
Smarter Shortcuts
Apple Intelligence makes Shortcuts more powerful by allowing users to describe what they want an automation to accomplish.
Instead of manually creating every step, users can use natural language to help build more complex workflows.
Smarter Messages and Mail
Apple is expanding Apple Intelligence in Messages and Mail with tools that can help users compose and refine text.
Siri AI can also adapt writing suggestions based on how a user typically communicates with different people, including their usual tone and punctuation.
Apple Intelligence Supported Devices
Apple Intelligence requires newer hardware than the standard operating system updates.
For iPhone, Apple Intelligence is supported on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 models or later.
For iPad, it is available on the iPad mini with A17 Pro and iPad models with M1 or later.
On Mac, Apple Intelligence requires an M1 chip or later, with Apple’s MacBook Neo also supported.
Apple Vision Pro also supports Apple Intelligence, while Apple Watch support includes Series 9 and later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later, and Apple Watch SE 3 when paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone nearby.
iPhone
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 17
- iPhone 17 Plus
- iPhone 17 Pro
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- iPhone Air
- Later iPhone models
iPad
- iPad mini with A17 Pro
- iPad models with M1 or later
Mac
- Mac models with M1 or later
- MacBook Neo with A18 Pro
Apple Vision Pro
- Apple Vision Pro
Apple Watch
- Apple Watch Series 9 and later
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later
- Apple Watch SE 3 when paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone nearby
Apple Intelligence Compatibility vs iOS 27
One of the most important things to understand is that iOS 27 compatibility and Apple Intelligence compatibility are not the same thing.
Apple’s latest operating system supports a much wider range of iPhones than Apple Intelligence.
For example, iOS 27 supports older models including the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation), but those devices do not support Apple Intelligence.
| iPhone | iOS 27 | Apple Intelligence |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 series | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 16 series | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 15 Pro | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 15 | Yes | No |
| iPhone 14 series | Yes | No |
| iPhone 13 series | Yes | No |
| iPhone 12 series | Yes | No |
| iPhone 11 series | Yes | No |
| iPhone SE (2nd generation) | Yes | No |
This hardware distinction is important because Apple Intelligence relies on the processing capabilities of Apple’s newer chips.
Apple Intelligence Supported Languages
Apple Intelligence supports a growing range of languages.
Apple currently lists support for:
- English
- Danish
- Dutch
- French
- German
- Italian
- Norwegian
- Portuguese
- Spanish
- Swedish
- Turkish
- Vietnamese
- Simplified Chinese
- Traditional Chinese
- Japanese
- Korean
Apple notes that individual features may have different language and regional requirements, so having a supported language does not necessarily mean every Apple Intelligence feature will be available.
Is Apple Intelligence Available Everywhere?
Apple Intelligence availability varies by device, language, feature and region.
Apple says some features are not available in every country or language because of local laws and regulations.
For iOS 27, Apple says Siri AI will not initially be available on iOS, iPadOS and watchOS in the European Union. Apple also says Siri AI and other new Apple Intelligence features will not initially be available in China while it works through regulatory requirements.
How Apple Intelligence Works
Apple Intelligence uses a combination of on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute.
When a request can be handled on the device, Apple processes it locally. This allows supported AI features to work without sending every request to Apple’s servers.
For more complex requests, Apple can use Private Cloud Compute to provide additional processing power.
Apple says data sent to Private Cloud Compute is not stored after the request is processed and is not accessible to Apple. The company has also designed the system so outside experts can verify its privacy protections.
Does Apple Intelligence Use ChatGPT?
Apple Intelligence can use ChatGPT, but ChatGPT and Apple Intelligence are separate.
Apple Intelligence is Apple’s own AI system and is integrated into its operating systems.
ChatGPT is an external AI service from OpenAI that Apple can use for certain requests when users give permission.
This allows Apple devices to combine Apple’s built-in intelligence features with an external AI model when appropriate.
Is Apple Intelligence Free?
Apple Intelligence is included with compatible Apple devices and does not require a separate subscription for its standard features.
However, some Apple Intelligence features rely on powerful server-based models and have daily usage limits.
Apple says increased access to some of these features is available through most iCloud+ subscription plans.
Is Apple Intelligence Private?
Privacy is a central part of Apple’s Apple Intelligence architecture.
Apple prioritizes on-device processing whenever possible. When a request requires additional processing, Private Cloud Compute is designed to process the request without retaining the user’s information after the task is completed.
Apple also requires permission before certain requests are sent to third-party services such as ChatGPT.
This approach is intended to give users access to more powerful AI features without treating their personal data like a conventional cloud AI service.
Apple Intelligence vs Other AI Assistants
Apple Intelligence is different from standalone AI assistants such as ChatGPT because it is deeply integrated into the operating system.
Instead of requiring users to open a separate AI app, Apple Intelligence can work directly inside apps such as Messages, Mail, Photos, Notes and Safari.
Its biggest advantage is therefore not simply generating text or images. It is the ability to understand and act on information already available across Apple’s ecosystem.
With iOS 27, that approach becomes even more important as Siri AI gains personal context, on-screen awareness and systemwide app actions.
Why Apple Intelligence Matters
Apple Intelligence represents Apple’s broader shift toward making AI a built-in part of its devices rather than a separate service.
The first generation focused heavily on writing, notifications, images and basic AI assistance. The next generation is moving toward a more capable system that can understand context, interact with apps and help users complete tasks.
That makes Apple Intelligence one of the most important parts of Apple’s software strategy, particularly as Siri AI and the next generation of Apple Intelligence roll out across the company’s device ecosystem.
