Apple Inc. has announced that it will enable its artificial intelligence (AI) feature, Apple Intelligence, by default for eligible users in the upcoming updates of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS 15.3. According to release notes discovered by 9to5Mac, both new users and those upgrading their devices will automatically benefit from the advanced capabilities offered by Apple Intelligence.

Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, image licensed from Midjourney

The rollout of this AI update will not be universally applicable to all devices, as it is specifically designed for models that support Apple Intelligence. This includes the iPhone 15 Pro and newer, as well as iPads and Macs equipped with the Apple Silicon M1 chip or later, along with the latest version of iPad mini.

For Mac users who purchase new devices or upgrade to macOS 15.3, the Apple Intelligence feature will be automatically activated during the device setup process. Users can begin utilizing the related features immediately after completing the setup. However, those who prefer to disable Apple Intelligence will find a straightforward option: they can navigate to the “Apple Intelligence and Siri” settings and toggle off the “Apple Intelligence” switch to deactivate the AI functions on their devices.

This configuration implies that after updating their devices, users who do not wish to use AI-driven features such as notification summaries, the Image Playground, or text rewriting functions will need to manually disable Apple Intelligence. Users retain full control over their preferences regarding the activation of this feature.

It is important to highlight that last week, some users testing the iOS 18.3 beta discovered flaws in the AI notification summary feature, particularly in news and entertainment applications. For instance, the AI incorrectly summarized a headline from the BBC. In response, Apple is working on enhancements to improve the clarity of lock screen notification summaries. The company has also indicated that these summaries “may contain errors,” aiming to manage user expectations regarding the accuracy of AI-generated content.

As Apple continues to evolve its AI capabilities, users can anticipate ongoing improvements and refinements to the functionality, ensuring a better experience as they interact with the Apple Intelligence feature. The automatic enablement of this feature marks a significant step in Apple's integration of AI technologies into its ecosystem, reflecting the growing trend of AI adoption across various platforms.

Key Points

1. Apple Intelligence will be enabled by default in iOS 18.3 and macOS 15.3 for eligible users.
2. Users can disable the AI feature through the settings if desired.
3. The update is limited to newer Apple devices supporting the M1 chip and later.
4. Apple is addressing issues with AI notification summaries to enhance accuracy.