Apple Intelligence Now Enabled by Default: How to Opt Out of iOS 18.3's AI Features

How to switch off Apple Intelligence on your iPhone, iPad and Mac

Apple released new software updates on Monday, including iOS 18.3, which automatically opts users into Apple Intelligence, at least for newer devices. Unlike what the tech industry seems to think, or wants to believe, not everyone wants generative AI features enabled by default on their devices. You may want to switch off the new AI features because you are concerned about the AI industry's impact on the environment or some of the political views of the industry's top players, or you just don't think it works very well right now -- something that has so far been proven true with Apple Intelligence, so much so that there's an entire subreddit dedicated to its fails. We are here to help you switch off Apple Intelligence from your devices, a process which should be the same for iPhones, iPads, and Macs -- and it's relatively straightforward. Go to Settings on iOS, or System Settings on Mac, and then tap or click on Apple Intelligence. On Mac, if it's switched on, turn it off by clicking on the toggle. You may also want to switch off Siri here as well. You will have to confirm you want to stop using Apple Intelligence in a dialog that will open once you click on the toggle. On iOS, when you open the Settings app, scroll down to Apple Intelligence & Siri and tap on the toggle to turn it off. You can turn off Siri here too, which we suggest for privacy and security reasons, especially related to Siri on the lock screen. It's worth noting that Apple has designed its AI features to be privacy-minded, with a system and infrastructure that the company calls Private Cloud Computer. In practice, this means no personal data ever touches the company Apple Intelligence servers.

iOS 18.3 Now Turns Apple Intelligence On By Default. Here's How to Turn It Off

Most of the big new features in the just-released iOS 18.3 are focused on Apple Intelligence, such as italicized message summaries (as partial damage control after numerous embarrassing and misleading examples). The big news, though, is that Apple Intelligence is now turned on by default for devices like the iPhone 16 series, instead of requiring extra steps to activate it. But if you're not interested in these still-beta enhancements, and don't want features like Image Playground and Genmoji taking up valuable storage space, you don't have to be saddled with them. You're also not alone: 73% of Apple users who think AI adds little to no value to the experience, according to a new survey by SellCell. In a separate survey, CNET found that 25% of smartphone owners are not interested at all. The good news is that you can turn Apple Intelligence off entirely. Or, if you'd prefer to pick and choose, you can selectively disable some of the features. I'm not an AI crank -- I appreciate features such as notification summaries and the Clean Up tool in the Photos app. And yet, Apple Intelligence is also a work in progress, an evolving set of features that Apple is heavily hyping while gradually developing. I wouldn't hold it against you if you wanted to not be distracted or feel like you're doing Apple's testing for them (that's what the developer and public betas are for). Remember that Apple Intelligence works only on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro or M-series Macs and iPads (plus the newest iPad mini). And if you've already updated to iOS 18.2, you need to add yourself to the queue for access to the new features. (Curiously, the Clean Up tool in Photos sticks around even when Apple Intelligence is turned off, perhaps because the first time you use it the app downloads resources for it.) Maybe you're finding some Apple Intelligence features helpful while others are annoying (or just highly amusing). You can turn off specific features in the settings for apps to which they apply. For example, to disable text summaries in Messages notifications, go to Settings > Apps > Messages and switch off the Summarize Messages option. Some features are not as app-specific. Writing Tools, which use Apple Intelligence to proof or rewrite text, appear as an option when you select text, regardless of the app. To turn that off, you need to disable Apple Intelligence system-wide. Also note that nearly every app includes an Apple Intelligence & Siri option in Settings, with a Learn from this App option (turned on by default). That applies just to whether Apple Intelligence and Siri can monitor how you use it to make suggestions; it doesn't affect any particular Apple Intelligence features. Another option for restricting what Apple Intelligence can do is buried in the Screen Time settings. Screen Time is designed to control which apps and features can run on another device, such as the iPhone used by a child in your household. But it's also helpful for tracking how much time you're spending on the device and, in this case, turning off some components of Apple Intelligence. If you're concerned about the storage requirements of Apple Intelligence, you can find out how much the system is using by going to Settings > General > iPhone (or iPad) Storage > iOS (or iPadOS). Unfortunately, from my testing it does not appear that turning off Apple Intelligence reclaims that storage space: After doing so and restarting my devices, the Apple Intelligence item and amount are unchanged.

Apple Intelligence Will Soon Be Enabled Automatically. Here's How to Turn It Off

When iOS 18.3 ships, possibly next week, it will include new italicized Apple Intelligence message summaries (following some embarrassing misleading ones) and the usual collection of bug fixes and security updates typical of a dot-3 update. More significantly, though, Apple Intelligence will reportedly be turned on by default for devices like the iPhone 16 series that can run it. In iOS 18.2, you need to take extra steps to activate the new AI technologies. That's not great news if you're one of the 73% of Apple users who think AI adds little to no value to the experience, according to a new survey by SellCell. In a separate survey, CNET found that 25% of smartphone owners are not interested at all. That's also not ideal if your device is getting full, since Apple Intelligence tools such as Image Playground, Image Wand and Genmoji now occupy more storage space than when it was originally released. If Apple Intelligence holds no appeal for you, or if you'd rather wait until the tech matures a bit more, it's easy to turn it off entirely or selectively disable some of the features. I'm not an AI crank -- I appreciate features such as notification summaries and the Clean Up tool in the Photos app. And yet, Apple Intelligence is also a work in progress, an evolving set of features that Apple is heavily hyping while gradually developing. I wouldn't hold it against you if you wanted to not be distracted or feel like you're doing Apple's testing for them (that's what the developer and public betas are for). Remember that Apple Intelligence works only on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro or M-series Macs and iPads (plus the newest iPad mini). And if you've already updated to iOS 18.2, you need to add yourself to the queue for access to the new features. (Curiously, the Clean Up tool in Photos sticks around even when Apple Intelligence is turned off, perhaps because the first time you use it the app downloads resources for it.) Maybe you're finding some Apple Intelligence features helpful while others are annoying (or just highly amusing). You can turn off specific features in the settings for apps to which they apply. For example, to disable text summaries in Messages notifications, go to Settings > Apps > Messages and switch off the Summarize Messages option. Some features are not as app-specific. Writing Tools, which use Apple Intelligence to proof or rewrite text, appear as an option when you select text, regardless of the app. To turn that off, you need to disable Apple Intelligence system-wide. Also note that nearly every app includes an Apple Intelligence & Siri option in Settings, with a Learn from this App option (turned on by default). That applies just to whether Apple Intelligence and Siri can monitor how you use it to make suggestions; it doesn't affect any particular Apple Intelligence features. Another option for restricting what Apple Intelligence can do is buried in the Screen Time settings. Screen Time is designed to control which apps and features can run on another device, such as the iPhone used by a child in your household. But it's also helpful for tracking how much time you're spending on the device and, in this case, turning off some components of Apple Intelligence. If you're concerned about the storage requirements of Apple Intelligence, you can find out how much the system is using by going to Settings > General > iPhone (or iPad) Storage > iOS (or iPadOS). Unfortunately, from my testing it does not appear that turning off Apple Intelligence reclaims that storage space: After doing so and restarting my devices, the Apple Intelligence item and amount are unchanged.

Apple Intelligence now turns on automatically. Here's how you can turn it off

Apple's recent software update, iOS 18.3, automatically activates the Apple Intelligence feature for both new users and those upgrading on eligible devices. The technology, which received integration with Siri and ChatGPT in previous iterations, is now set to be turned on during the iPhone onboarding process, as per Apple's beta release notes. This represents a shift from prior updates, where users had to actively opt in to utilize Apple Intelligence's capabilities. Primarily, the feature is available on newer iPhone models, including the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPhone 16 series. Despite the automatic activation, users wishing to disable the feature can do so through device settings. To turn off Apple Intelligence, navigate to your iPhone's Settings, proceed to the Apple Intelligence & Siri panel, and toggle off the feature. The ability to manually control these settings persists, allowing users to choose which elements of Apple Intelligence they wish to keep enabled. This manual control is vital for users concerned about privacy or those who prefer minimal AI intervention in their device's operations. The feature, known for enhancing the operating system's capabilities, was first introduced in iOS 18.1. It was expanded to include enhanced Siri functionalities with the help of ChatGPT through the iOS 18.2 update. The automatic enabling in iOS 18.3 signifies Apple's commitment to advancing AI features, though it remains essential for users to retain autonomy over their device's functions. Apple's move to automatically enable Apple Intelligence comes amid a broader trend of embedding AI technologies directly into user interfaces. While this enhances device capabilities and user experiences, it also prompts discussions surrounding user consent and the balance between automated enhancements and user control.

Apple Intelligence Is Now on by Default, but You Can Turn It Off

Apple Intelligence had a slow rollout, launching with a waitlist and only recently allowing access to AI images and its emoji generator. But now, it seems Apple is finally ready to follow Microsoft and Google's leads and start putting its AI features front-and-center. According to the release notes for the iOS 18.3 release candidate, the final beta for the latest iPhone update before it goes live in (likely to be a few days), Apple Intelligence will be going from an opt-in feature to an opt-out one. In other words, if you have an AI-compatible iPhone (meaning the iPhone 15 Pro and above), Apple Intelligence will be toggled on by default. Here's Apple explaining it in the company's own words: For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices. To disable Apple Intelligence, users will need to navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle. This will disable Apple Intelligence features on their device. It's a major last-minute change to what has been a fairly boring update so far -- although unlike Google's plan to eventually replace Google Assistant with Gemini, at least Apple still gives you the option to opt out. That tracks with Apple's other big change for the patch, which sees the company rolling back some of the features associated with Apple Intelligence's AI-generated notification summaries. Apple Intelligence isn't without its perks, although for me, the biggest difference I've seen since enabling it is that Siri's UI looks a little different. It's still got more features on the way, including the ability for Siri to natively pull context from your phone's screen and your messages, so it'll presumably get better, but it's understandable if you'd rather hold off for now. To ensure you've got Apple Intelligence disabled once iOS 18.3 goes live, keep an eye on your phone. If summoning Siri turns on a purple border all around your phone's screen, you've been opted into AI. To opt out of Apple Intelligence and go back to the standard, AI-less experience, navigate to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and flip off the Apple Intelligence toggle at the top of the page.

How to Turn Off Apple Intelligence on an iPhone, iPad, and Mac

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED apple Intelligence isn't as big a success story as Apple may have expected. The suite of artificial intelligence features -- introduced late in 2024 in iOS 18.1 -- has received mixed reactions. Some capabilities, like automatically transcribing voice notes and recordings, creating custom emojis, and proofreading, are handy. Others not so much. Apple came under fire for inaccurate notification summaries, particularly those from news apps, and has temporarily disabled the feature for news and entertainment apps in iOS 18.3. When Apple first launched its AI venture, you had to opt in. But now with iOS 18.3, which just released today, Apple Intelligence is enabled automatically during the onboarding process for new users and anyone upgrading to iOS 18.3. You can still opt out by following a few steps. Whether you want to only enable certain features or disable the whole thing, here's how to turn off Apple Intelligence. For more on Apple Intelligence (and other features), check out our iOS 18 roundup and macOS Sequoia roundup. Also, check out our other Apple guides, including the Best iPhones, Best iPads, and Best MacBooks. For a breakdown of Apple Intelligence and how each feature works, read our aforementioned roundup of iOS 18 features and macOS 15 features. Below is a list of all the capabilities you'll have access to when it's enabled: Remember, Apple Intelligence is only available on select devices. For example, even if older iPhones can download iOS 18, only handsets like the iPhone 15 Pro and the entire iPhone 16 range support Apple's AI capabilities. Disabling Apple Intelligence is the same process whether you're using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac:

Apple Intelligence is enabled by default in iOS 18.3 and macOS 15.3

Starting next week, if you don't want Apple Intelligence, you'll have to disable it in Settings. From its introduction in iOS 18.1, Apple Intelligence has been an opt-in feature. Users had to decide to enable it, with Apple even going so far as to put people on a waiting list before they could use it. With iOS 18.3 and macOS 15.3, Apple's AI features become a standard default part of the experience for all compatible iPhones (iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 16), iPads, and Macs (all Macs with M1 or later processors). According to the developer documentation, Apple Intelligence will be enabled by default: For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices. To disable Apple Intelligence, users will need to navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle. This will disable Apple Intelligence features on their device. Obviously, this will only be true in the regions and languages for which Apple Intelligence is available. It makes some sense; These are distinguishing features of these devices and, unlike some Siri requests and responses, Apple Intelligence features are either processed entirely on the device or via Private Cloud Compute where everything is encrypted and never saved. Still, Apple Intelligence is clearly labeled as "Beta" and it feels premature to make any beta features opt-out rather than opt-in. To disable Apple Intelligence, open Settings, select Apple Intelligence & Siri, and flip the toggle switch to turn it off.

Apple’s Next Big iOS Update Will Turn on Apple Intelligence, Whether You Want It or Not

Fortunately, it's super easy to turn off, but it goes to show that Apple Intelligence is here to stay in the walled garden. This week, the Apple blogs discuss the eventuality of the iOS 18.3 software update rolling out to the iPhone. According to Bloomberg's weekly Apple news roundup, Apple Store employees have been instructed to update phones and devices in preparation for the launch. It isn't a significant software update, like iOS 18.2 was with Apple Intelligence. But as CNBC notes, the update does flip on Apple Intelligence by default, which means you'll have to specifically opt-out if you want nothing to do with the company's version of AI. iOS 18.3 will enable Apple Intelligence for anyone who successfully installs the software on their devices. "For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding," Apple writes in its developer notes. This means all iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, and iPhone 16 Pro usersâ€"all models compatible with Apple Intelligenceâ€"must go to the Settings panel after the update to turn it off. It's easy enough, but it speaks loudly to the importance of flexing AI muscle within the iOS ecosystem. Other new features included in iOS 18.3 include various fixes, such as Genmoji and Writing Tools. 9to5Mac also points out that Visual Intelligence is getting a couple of new abilities, which will be easily accessible with the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 series. The first ability lets you add an event to your calendar if you're looking at a poster or flyer, and the second enables visual intelligence to identify plants and animals. These features were shown off in previous Apple keynotes. They're especially prescient in launching now, considering Samsung's AI push and flexing of its partnership with Google on the Galaxy S25 series. This iOS 18.3 update will also include a minor update to the Notification Summaries that caused concern earlier this month after they were so bad users couldn't even trust the headlines pushed through. Apple has since pulled the feature to rein it in, but iOS 18.3 will feature italicized summaries, so you know that Apple Intelligence tried its hand at giving you the gist, not the actual facts.

Apple Intelligence is enabled by default in iOS 18.3

Apple Intelligence will be switched on by default, starting in iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS 15.3. In release candidate notes spotted by 9to5Mac, Apple says it will switch on AI-powered features automatically for new users or those upgrading to the latest versions of its operating systems. The AI update will only apply to devices that support Apple Intelligence, including the iPhone 15 Pro and later, iPads and Macs with the Apple Silicon M1 chip or later, and the most recent version of the iPad mini. For users new or upgrading to macOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during Mac onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices. To disable Apple Intelligence, users will need to navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle. This will disable Apple Intelligence features on their device. As Apple's notes mention, after updating your device, you'll have to manually disable Apple Intelligence if you don't want support for features like AI notification summaries, Image Playground, and tools that can rewrite pieces of text running on your device. To turn Apple Intelligence off, you'll have to head to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and then switch off the Apple Intelligence toggle. Last week, iOS 18.3 beta testers spotted an update that will pause AI notification summaries for news and entertainment apps after the feature inaccurately summarized a BBC headline. Apple will also make it easier to identify notification summaries on your iPhone's lock screen and note that they "may contain errors."

Apple's AI features on by default in iOS 18.3 - but you can opt out

Since its debut, Apple Intelligence has required the extra step of actually turning it on or opting in. But with the next versions of Apple's operating systems, the AI-powered feature will be enabled by default. The release notes for iOS/iPadOS 18.3 and MacOS 15.3 state that Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically for new and upgrading users, giving them immediate access to its AI-powered capabilities. Anyone who doesn't want to use the AI will have to manually turn it off. Also: I bought an iPhone 16 for its AI features, but I haven't used them even once - here's why Currently accessible as release candidates, iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and MacOS 15.3 are likely to launch within the next week or so. All three versions have been in beta testing since mid-December, giving developers more than a month to evaluate them for new features and fixes. Only eligible devices can take advantage of Apple Intelligence. These include any iPhone 16, the iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, any iPad Pro or iPad Air with an M1 chip or later, the iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip, and Macs with an M1 chip or later. Also: What is Apple Intelligence? Everything to know Apple Intelligence now chews up around 7GB of storage, up from 4GB initially. Turning off the technology doesn't automatically recover that space, at least not right away. But if you don't plan to use the AI at all, you can certainly disable it. To do so, just go to Settings, select Apple Intelligence & Siri, and then turn off the switch for Apple Intelligence. But wait, there's more in store with the upcoming new releases. Following issues with AI-generated summaries, Apple will more clearly indicate when a summary has been created by AI and temporarily pause notification summaries for news items. Also: Why you shouldn't buy the iPhone 16 for Apple Intelligence With macOS 15.3, Apple is adding Genmoji to the Mac, so you can create your own custom Genmoji based on text descriptions and people from your photo library. Plus, Apple has fixed a bug that prevented you from generating a Genmoji without selecting a different person from your library. Otherwise, the new versions will likely be relatively minor updates. More significant changes and improvements are expected with iOS/iPadOS 18.4 and MacOS 15.4 sometime in the spring, possibly late March. Those will reportedly enhance Siri by adding on-screen awareness and integration with third-party apps.

Apple Intelligence Will Be Enabled by Default in iOS 18.3: How to Opt Out

When Apple's AI software rolled out with iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2, users were asked to manually enable it in Settings; that changes with the upcoming update. "For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices," Apple says in the release notes for iOS 18.3 RC. Apple Intelligence works on the iPhone 15 Pro or later, Macs and iPads with an M-series chip, and the latest iPad mini. If you haven't upgraded yet, make sure you have enough space; Apple Intelligence requires at least 7GB of storage. AI features have not driven phone sales, however, with global iPhone sales dipping by 4.1% in Q4 2024. Apple Intelligence is only available in English-speaking countries, creating an opportunity for Chinese phone makers like Xiaomi and Vivo, according to analysts.

Apple Intelligence goes default: Will you keep it on?

Apple Intelligence will be switched on by default starting with iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS 15.3. The update will automatically enable AI-powered features for new users and those upgrading their operating systems. This AI update applies to devices that support Apple Intelligence, including the iPhone 15 Pro and later, iPads, and Macs with the Apple Silicon M1 chip or later, as well as the most recent version of the iPad mini. For users upgrading to macOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be activated automatically during the onboarding process. After setting up their devices, users can disable Apple Intelligence by navigating to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and turning off the Apple Intelligence toggle, which will disable the related features. Users must manually disable Apple Intelligence after updating their devices if they do not wish to utilize features such as AI notification summaries, Image Playground, and text rewriting tools. A recent update to iOS 18.3 beta has paused AI notification summaries for news and entertainment apps following inaccuracies in a summary of a BBC headline. Apple will enhance the identification of notification summaries on the iPhone's lock screen and clarify that they "may contain errors." Apple suspends AI news notifications, it's not ready yet Apple has started distributing the iOS 18.3 update for eligible iPhones, marking a significant expansion of Apple Intelligence's availability. Previously, users had to manually activate this feature, which could be challenging for less tech-savvy customers. The rollout of Apple's initial AI features, which includes notification summaries (currently paused due to reported errors), writing tools, Image Playground, ChatGPT-powered Siri, and Visual Intelligence, is nearly complete. The writing tools assist users in proofreading and rewriting text, while Image Playground allows users to generate custom images through simple text prompts. ChatGPT-Powered Siri enhances search results and aids in understanding complex topics. Visual Intelligence, an advanced tool akin to Google Lens, enables users to point their iPhone camera at subjects and ask related questions. Apple Intelligence will be enabled by default for eligible iPads and Macs running their respective updates, iPadOS 18.3 and macOS 15.3. Notably, Visual Intelligence is exclusive to the iPhone 16 series, which features a dedicated camera control button. A recent survey conducted by online smartphone marketplace SellCell reveals that Apple customers may not be as enthusiastic about Apple Intelligence as the company anticipated. Among over 1,000 iPhone owners with the latest hardware, only 41.6% expressed interest in trying the new features. Furthermore, of those who did, 73% found the tools to be "not very valuable" or adding "little to no value" to their smartphone experience, while only 11.1% deemed them valuable. The dissatisfaction among users largely stems from the perception that the features do not provide significant innovation within the AI landscape. This sentiment may suggest a growing fatigue regarding AI technologies. Concerns over the environmental impact of AI-related infrastructure, including contributions to electronic waste and significant water usage, are also emerging. Critics argue that investment in AI features that deliver minimal technical value to consumers exacerbates these environmental issues. Despite Apple's promotion of its Apple Intelligence features as substantial advancements enhancing user privacy and opportunities, there is a rising need to understand and combat potential greenwashing tactics. Awareness of the realities versus marketing claims is essential in navigating these narratives. Currently, Apple faces substantial criticism and demands to remove its Apple Intelligence features following a notification in December 2024 that inaccurately summarized a BBC report regarding Luigi Mangione, the suspect on trial for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Apple turns its AI on by default in latest software update

Apple on Monday released a software update for iPhones, iPads and Macs that turns Apple Intelligence on by default for users with supported devices. The updates, iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3, also disable AI summaries for news apps, which have gained a reputation for twisting news push notifications to display inaccurate facts. The release is a milestone in the rollout of Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of artificial intelligence features. Apple Intelligence is a critical product for Apple as it seeks to distinguish its products from competitors with an AI system integrated into iPhones and its other products. While Apple Intelligence is already featured in the company's marketing for the latest iPhones, the rollout has been deliberate and limited. Apple says that is to allow it to test new features and make sure it has enough server capacity. The entire Apple Intelligence suite is still officially in beta, and it's only available in a handful of English-speaking countries. Apple's move to turn Apple Intelligence on by default is a step towards a more complete rollout of the feature. Previously, users with supported iPhones -- models that were released in 2024 as well as 2023 "Pro" level models -- were prompted to turn on Apple Intelligence when setting up their phone, a process that included downloading AI models from the internet and some installation. With the latest updates, Apple Intelligence will be turned on by default when the latest software update is installed, expanding the number of users who are exposed to the software. Apple Intelligence is marketed as being able to rewrite text, generate images and summarize long emails and message threads. "For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding," Apple said in the developer release notes for the update. Users will have to navigate to the Apple Intelligence page in the Settings app to turn it off, according to Apple. The latest software update also includes one of the most notable example so far of Apple rolling back an AI feature after it generated controversy and subpar results. Apple joins Google and Microsoft as companies that were forced to roll back new AI features after it generated harmful content or "hallucinations" that weren't based in reality. Apple Intelligence can take stacks of notifications and simplify them into a three-sentence notification. However, the BBC and other news outlets discovered in December that the feature can twist news headlines into inaccurate information. Earlier this month, Apple's system conflated notifications from BBC's sports app to say that "Brazilian tennis player, Rafael Nadal, comes out as gay." Nadal is Spanish and is married to Maria Francisca Perello. The latest update disables Apple Intelligence for news and entertainment apps. Apple Intelligence also has been updated to show any notifications generated by its AI in italics, signifying which notifications are created by generative AI and which were pushed by the app itself. "We're pleased that Apple has listened to our concerns and is pausing the summarization feature for news," a BBC spokesperson told CNBC. Apple told CNBC earlier this month that its notification summaries for news apps would return in a future update.

Apple Is Taking Away Your Choice to Enable AI Features in iPhone

Users will still be able to disable Apple Intelligence manually Apple Intelligence will be enabled by default on iPhone with the upcoming iOS 18.3 update. Apple announced the change with the iOS 18.3 Release Candidate (RC), which rolled out to beta users on Tuesday. Till now, users were asked whether they would like to enable the artificial intelligence (AI) features or not; this, however, will not be the case going forward. Notably, the company is planning the same for iPad and Mac devices with their next updates. In its iOS 18.3 RC release notes, the tech giant stated the new change, highlighting how users will not get to choose whether or not to enable Apple Intelligence when updating to iOS 18.3. This will only affect iPhone devices that currently support the AI features. Apple said that during the installation process of the new update, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically. This means when the handset reboots, users will find all the AI features activated. However, this does not mean these features cannot be disabled. The tech giant added that users can navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings panel and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle to turn off the AI features on their device. The new change is a departure from the iPhone maker's previous strategy which gave users the option to choose whether or not to use AI tools. That was likely being done as the company worked on fixing bugs and glitches and optimising Apple Intelligence. However, it appears that the tech giant is confident in its in-house AI suite and wants more users to adopt the technology. However, the company did not mention whether Apple Intelligence will also be re-enabled for those users who had turned it on briefly in the past and then manually disabled it. Notably, the iOS 18.3 update does not bring any major new features. However, it reportedly added several changes to the AI notification summaries feature that recently drew flak for generating erroneous summaries of news headlines.

If Apple Intelligence is so great, why doesn't Apple trust us to turn it on?

I know the road is well-trod by now, but yes, we're back to talk about Apple Intelligence once again. Why? Well, for better or worse, it seems to be pretty much all that Apple wants to talk about these days, and when the company has put this much time, energy, and, yes, marketing attention onto a single feature, then scrutiny is, also for better or worse, what you get. While the features under this Apple Intelligence banner have had their fair share of problems so far -- everything from inaccurate news summaries to misidentifying spouses -- none of that seems to have slowed Apple's adoption of the technology. With the news that the upcoming iOS 18.3 and macOS 15.3 updates will activate Apple Intelligence by default, the company continues to plow full speed ahead, directly into a minefield that's also somehow replete with both asteroids and icebergs. Apple's AI features exist in a Schrödingeresque limbo: the company continues to label them as betas (in increasingly fine print, it seems) while simultaneously using them to sell its products. Go to Apple's website right now, and the top spot on the company's homepage is a banner for the iPhone 16 Pro with the subtitle "Hello, Apple Intelligence." The company is having its cake Genmoji and eating it too. Unsurprisingly, this stems mainly from its business concerns. AI is on the tip of everyone's tongue right now, and Apple both has to be seen to be relevant and, moreover, has to be relevant by incorporating said features. The company was caught flat-footed in the AI groundswell and has had to scramble to catch up, which means telling everybody loudly that it has now caught up, even if it hasn't. From a purely technological standpoint, the change to make Apple Intelligence opt-out rather than opt-in makes sense from a couple of standpoints. One, it eliminates any steps for people who have Apple Intelligence capable devices, making those features immediately available to people who might not have otherwise known they were there or spent the time figuring out how -- or even if -- to turn them on. As an ancillary benefit, enabling these features expands the pool of people using them, which helps the company gather analytics and metrics, in turn feeding into improving those features. Is there a risk for Apple in making this move? Sure. Some people will be confused or unaware of what the features are doing and might end up with unexpected or misleading results, despite Apple's attempts to provide caveats. Some people will be upset that the features were enabled without their explicit permission. (You don't have to look far on social media these days to see similar uproars about more innocuous capabilities that people have lumped in with generative AI.) But to Apple, the benefits clearly outweigh any potential downsides. The same can't necessarily be said for users. Let's start with this: I don't believe AI features to be a total waste of time. There are obvious utilities to machine learning algorithms of the kinds that Apple has been employing for years and even generative AI and Large Language Models can be tremendously useful within certain contexts. But those technologies are also not without their costs, including everything from the unauthorized use of intellectual property to their not infrequent errors to the environmental impact. And this is where Apple's move to enable Apple Intelligence by default raises an eyebrow. Given the contentious nature of these features, there is understandable frustration to users immediately having their devices start utilizing this functionality without their say-so. It's not dissimilar from Google's recent choice to start serving up an AI overview -- often with hilariously bad information -- at the top of its search results. Like Apple, Google is struggling to prove its relevance in a field that risks leaving it behind, but it's a move that I would argue has made Google's product worse, and even cheapened their brand overall. That's a risk for Apple too, and it's a company that lives by its reputation more than most. But it's not all downside: for every person upset about Apple's choice to automatically enable Apple Intelligence, there may be another who benefits from the addition of its proofreading tools or delights in making Genmoji, and might never have found those features had they not been on by default. It's not as if there isn't precedent for this on Apple's part. The company has long taken a paternalistic approach to its users, whether it be in swapping scrolling direction on the Mac, insisting that people held its phones wrong, or getting rid of small phones. It probably shouldn't be surprising that the company would go down this road -- but that doesn't mean it's not disappointing. Like it or not, Apple Intelligence isn't going anywhere. The company has one more set of promised features to deliver before the presumably next round is unveiled at June's Worldwide Developers Conference, and there exists the possibility -- slim, perhaps -- that those capabilities might prove the whole endeavor worthwhile. But don't be surprised if the number of Google searches for "how to turn off Apple Intelligence" start climbing -- just remember that putting glue into your phone is never the answer.

Apple's next iOS and macOS update will turn on Apple Intelligence if your iPhone or Mac can run it

Whether you've been waiting for Genmoji, Image Playground, or Notification Summaries - and the ability to turn these on or off on a per-app basis - the next version of iOS and macOS for your Apple Intelligence capable iPhone or Mac will toss you right into the deep end. As spotted by 9to5Mac in the latest developers' betas of iOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3, the latest version of the operating system will automatically enable Apple Intelligence. This means that if you have an iPhone, Mac, or iPad that can run Apple's suite of AI features, it'll be turned on by default...so if you want to opt-out, you'll need to hop into settings and turn it off. It won't be too much of a surprise that Apple Intelligence will be enabled, though, as the onboarding you'll see after you update the device will likely make it clear that it's being turned on and what you'll get. Apple Intelligence currently offers an enhanced Siri - though not the entirely generational leap that is still promised to arrive later in 2025 - writing tools, integration with ChatGPT, Image Playground, Clean Up in Photos, custom Memories in Photos, and Genmoji, among others. Apple writes in the release notes for the latest beta of iOS 18.3, "For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices. To disable Apple Intelligence, users will need to navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle. This will disable Apple Intelligence features on their device." This change to auto-enable the AI suite of features out of the box comes after Apple Intelligence has been out since October 28, 2024, with the release of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 -- many of the features are still labeled as beta even in the latest versions of software for testing and Apple encourages folks to share feedback. iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3, which all dropped release candidate versions of the developer beta today, don't introduce any of the already announced and very anticipated Apple Intelligence features. It's more focused on bug squashing and offering more control around the criticized Notifications Summaries feature. With the latest edition of software, summaries for 'News and Entertainment apps' are turned off by default, you can turn the feature off on a per app basis, and these will be presented in italics to better make you aware that it's in beta. Considering Apple has rolled out the release candidate of the developer betas of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3, the public beta equivalent of these will likely roll out next, followed by a full release for all eligible devices at some point in the near future. And if you haven't yet turned on Apple Intelligence, know that iOS 18.3 and its macOS and iPadOS equivalents will do so; just promise me you'll have fun making Genmojis.

Apple releases iOS 18.3 with AI-powered Apple Intelligence on by default

Apple has kicked off iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and MacOS 15.3 with one significant change affecting AI. Since its debut, Apple Intelligence has required the extra step of actually turning it on or opting in. But with the new versions, Apple's AI feature is enabled by default for eliglble devices. The release notes for the new OS versions released on Monday state that Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically for new and upgrading users, giving them immediate access to its AI-powered capabilities. Anyone who doesn't want to use the AI will have to manually turn it off. Also: I bought an iPhone 16 for its AI features, but I haven't used them even once - here's why Only eligible devices can take advantage of Apple Intelligence. These include any iPhone 16, the iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, any iPad Pro or iPad Air with an M1 chip or later, the iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip, and Macs with an M1 chip or later. Apple Intelligence now chews up around 7GB of storage, up from 4GB initially. Turning off the technology doesn't automatically recover that space, at least not right away. But if you don't plan to use the AI at all, you can certainly disable it. To do so, go to Settings, select Apple Intelligence & Siri, and then turn off the switch for Apple Intelligence. The latest OS updates kick in a few more changes. Following issues with AI-generated summaries, Apple will now more clearly indicate when a summary has been cooked up through AI by italicizing the notice. On the downside, Apple has temporarily disabled notification summaries for news items following complaints that the summaries weren't accurate or reliable. Also: Why you shouldn't buy the iPhone 16 for Apple Intelligence Designed for the iPhone 16, the visual intelligence option lets you dig up details on people, places, and things that you capture with the Camera control. With iOS 18.3, you can now use visual intelligence to add an event to your calendar from a poster or flyer and identify plants and animals. With MacOS 15.3, Apple has added Genmoji to the Mac, so you can create your own custom Genmoji based on text descriptions and people from your photo library. Plus, Apple has fixed a bug that prevented you from generating a Genmoji without selecting a different person from your library. The latest versions also add several security patches. Within iOS/iPadOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3 are 26 bug fixes covering such features as AirPlay, Passkeys, and Safari. Also: What is Apple Intelligence? Everything to know Otherwise, the new updates are relatively minor. More significant changes are expected with iOS/iPadOS 18.4 and MacOS 15.4 sometime this spring, most likely in late March or early April. Those will reportedly enhance Siri by adding on-screen awareness and integration with third-party apps.

Beta or not, Apple Intelligence becomes a default iOS setting across devices

Cutting corners: Apple Intelligence is now an "opt-out" feature across the entire Apple ecosystem, despite still being marketed as a beta product. Most users aren't keen to have incomplete features forced upon them, but shoving AI down everybody's throat is a popular trend among corporations dabbling in the technology. After much anticipation, Apple introduced its generative AI suite last October with the release of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. Initially, "Apple Intelligence" features were disabled by default - users had to manually enable them through system settings. But now Cupertino has decided to reverse course - likely due to slow adoption - forcing users to "enjoy" generative AI features on mobile devices and Macs, whether they want them or not. Apple Intelligence has become an opt-out feature with the release of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3. According to the company, these GenAI features will be automatically enabled after installing the updates and during the device setup process. Users can still disable it through the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings panel. However, proper hardware support is required, so the generative AI tools will only work on iPhone 15 Pro series, iPhone 16 series, and iPhone 16 Pro series. Similarly, iPad and Mac devices with M1 or newer Arm processors will have the features enabled by default after updating their operating systems. Apple's willingness to push beta and somewhat unreliable software features onto users is not unprecedented. The company took a similar approach with Siri in 2011. When users reported issues with the digital assistant, Apple brushed them off as "side effects" of the software's beta phase. Siri was finally rolled out as a full feature in 2013, shedding its "beta" label and becoming a standard part of iOS. Apple Intelligence appears to be following a similar path, as users are discovering some troublesome side effects with this brand-new technology. For example, the AI summaries feature has been generating fake headlines, prompting reporters to urge Apple to address the issue. As a stopgap measure, the latest OS updates will temporarily disable notifications for the entire "news and entertainment" app category until the problem is resolved. In today's rapidly evolving Wild West GenAI world, Apple seems to be mimicking its competitors by prioritizing corporate goals over user preference. Microsoft and Google have already made similar moves, enabling AI features by default on their platforms so users can experience the "wonders" of generative AI - even if they have no need for it.

iOS 18.3 automatically enables Apple Intelligence for users, requires opt-out to disable - 9to5Mac

iOS 18.3 is launching soon, as today's RC beta confirms. Alongside updates to notification summaries, the release will also automatically enable Apple Intelligence for iPhone users, and the Mac and iPad will follow suit. Up until now, Apple Intelligence has been an opt-in set of features for users. When installing iOS 18.1 or 18.2, users would be asked if they wanted to enable the AI upgrades, and only after confirming would the features become available. But in iOS 18.3, that's going to change. Per Apple's just-published beta release notes, iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS 15.3 will all automatically enable Apple Intelligence upon installation. Here are the official details on the change: For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices. To disable Apple Intelligence, users will need to navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle. This will disable Apple Intelligence features on their device. Similar notes are included for the iPadOS and macOS updates. For users with a supported AI device, the vast majority have likely already enabled Apple Intelligence. However, for those who haven't yet, Apple is going to flip the switch on those AI features when the update arrives. What's unclear is what will happen for users who at one point enabled Apple Intelligence, then later decided to disable it in Settings. Hopefully, iOS 18.3 and its companion updates won't re-enable the features, but we'll have to wait and see what happens after the public release arrives. iOS 18.3 is overall a feature-light release, but notably it does include several changes to AI notification summaries -- the most controversial AI feature so far. It seems that Apple feels like, with those changes, and a couple months with Apple Intelligence available publicly, now is the right time to activate its AI features by default. What do you think about this change? Is it surprising at all? Let us know in the comments.

iOS 18.3, macOS 15.3 updates switch to enabling Apple Intelligence by default

Apple has sent out release candidate builds of the upcoming iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS 15.3 updates to developers today. But they come with one tweak that hasn't been reported on, per MacRumors: They enable all of the AI-powered Apple Intelligence features by default during setup. When Apple Intelligence was initially released in iOS 18.1, the features were off by default, unless users chose to opt-in and enable them. Those who still wish to opt out of Apple Intelligence features will now have to do it after their devices are set up by navigating to the Apple Intelligence & Siri section in the Settings app. Apple Intelligence will only be enabled by default for hardware that supports it. For the iPhone, that's just the iPhone 15 Pro series, iPhone 16 series, and iPhone 16 Pro series. It goes further back on the iPad and Mac -- Apple Intelligence works on any model with an M1 processor or newer. Apple is following in the footsteps of Microsoft and Google here, rolling out new generative AI features to its user base as quickly as possible and enabling some or all of them by default while still labeling everything as a "beta" and pointing to that label when things go wrong. Case in point: the iOS 18.3 update also temporarily disables all notification summaries for apps in the App Store's "news and entertainment" category, because some of those summaries contained major factual inaccuracies.

Apple Intelligence to be on by default in next macOS, iOS

Plus: Google stuffs Gemini into Workspace, with a hidden off switch? Ready or not, generative AI assistants and productivity aids are getting harder to avoid with a growing number of software vendors enabling them by default. Beginning with the due-to-be-released macOS Sequoia version 15.3 as well as iOS and iPadOS 18.3, Cupertino's suite of AI features, which it calls Apple Intelligence, will be turned on by default for compatible devices. "For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices," the notes for the iOS/iPadOS release candidate to developers reads, spotted by MacRumors. First teased at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference last year and released in stages following the iGiant's September, "It's Glowtime" event, Apple Intelligence includes a suite of machine-learning-augmented services and features ranging from AI proofreading, rewriting, and summarization to text-to-image and text-to-emoji generation and a, supposedly, more useful Siri. These features are supported on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max or newer, and any iPad or Mac with an M1 processor or better. However, critically, users were required to opt in to the service. With its next round of operating system updates, it seems Apple is ready to bring these capabilities to a broader audience. Having said that, not all functionality touted in the Apple Intelligence announcement has gone over well with users. Last month, Apple's news summarization feature botched a BBC headline, with the AI claiming that Luigi Mangione, the man accused of assassinating United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had shot himself, when he had not. As we understand it, this bit of Apple Intelligence will be absent with version 18.3 at least until Cupertino can convince its AI to stop hallucinating headlines. The good news for those looking to sit out the AI hype is that customers setting up new or resetting compatible devices after the update goes out will still have the option of disabling Apple Intelligence after the fact. According to Apple, users will need to navigate "to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle. This will disable Apple Intelligence features on their device." Apple isn't the only one rolling out AI features to its users. You may have noticed over the past week that your Google Workspace account has been crammed with AI assistants promising to help you craft emails, messages, and revise documents. This functionality is mainly coming to Business Standard and Business Plus plans. Google has published a table mapping available subscription plans to new pricing. Existing customers will have until March 17 -- or their renewal date for those paying annually or on a fixed-term plan -- before their bills change. The Big G says a customer using its Workspace Business Standard plan with a Gemini Business add-on will go from paying $32 per user, per month, to $14, with all the same features, which would be $2 more than Workspace minus Gemini. On the other hand, if you were paying $12 a month for a Business Standard Workspace without Gemini, that's going up to $14 with the AI features now built in. Further complicating matters, opting out of Google's various AI widgets doesn't appear to be as simple as flipping a switch in the Workspace dashboard, as a group of netizens recently discovered. Multiple subscribers have reported that the option of disabling Gemini for Workspaces is only available upon request from Google customer support. It turns out Google does provide instructions for disabling Gemini features in Workspace, but they seemingly only apply to enterprise editions of the G-Suite. We've reached out to the search goliath for clarification; we'll let you know if we hear anything back. The change comes shortly as Microsoft began rolling out its own brand of genAI functionality into Microsoft 365 Personal and family accounts, along with a $3 a month price hike in the US at least. Those who'd prefer an AI-less experience can opt for a basic or classic plan. ®