Meta Blocks Apple Intelligence on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp

Meta blocks Apple Intelligence on Facebook and its other iOS apps

Apple Intelligence was announced with iOS 18 and has been available since last October, when Apple released iOS 18.1 to the public. Although most apps provide support for Apple Intelligence features by default, developers can choose not to have them in their apps - and it seems that Meta has decided to do so. As reported by the Brazilian blog Sorcererhat Tech, features such as Writing Tools - which lets users create, change, and proofread text with Apple Intelligence - are no longer available in any of Meta's apps, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Threads. Typically, iPhone and iPad users can access Writing Tools by tapping on a text field. However, in Meta's iOS apps, the option is not available. Meta apps also don't let users create and share Genmoji, Apple's custom emoji generated by AI. The report notes that Meta has also removed the ability to add keyboard stickers and Memoji to Instagram Stores - something that was possible before. Unsurprisingly, Meta doesn't give any details about why Apple Intelligence isn't available in its iOS apps. But if we had to guess, the company probably wants to motivate people to use Meta AI instead of alternatives like Apple Intelligence. Meta AI is available in pretty much all of Meta's apps and also lets users create and change text, as well as generate images. A WSJ report last year revealed that Apple and Meta had discussed a potential partnership that would bring Llama, Meta's AI language model, to Apple Intelligence. However, Apple reportedly decided to scrap the deal because it didn't agree with the company's privacy policies. Apple and Meta also frequently fight each other over App Store guidelines. Unfortunately for iOS users, this means that they can't take advantage of Apple Intelligence in some of the most popular apps in the world. Hopefully the company will change its approach in the future.

Meta has reportedly blocked Apple Intelligence in Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp -- here's what we know

Meta seems to have blocked Apple intelligence from accessing its apps It sounds like you won't be linking your Instagram or WhatsApp accounts up with Apple Intelligence, at least not anytime soon. That's because, according to Sorcererhat Tech, Meta has blocked Apple Intelligence from its apps. Back when Apple first announced Apple Intelligence, and its integration with iOS apps, the company confirmed that developers had a choice on whether to allow the AI access or not. Clearly Meta has chosen to take Apple up on that, meaning the likes of Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Instagram won't support any Apple Intelligence features. My first thought was that Meta didn't want anything to do with the upcoming Siri updates. Apple announced that Siri would gain the ability to perform different functions within your apps, and I figured that Meta didn't want to hand over that control to Apple's AI. But there's more to it than that. SorcererhatTech notes that even the most mundane Apple intelligence features, like Writing Tools or even Genmoji, aren't available in Meta's apps. I tried this myself on Instagram, and found that I couldn't access either feature. This is despite the fact all the Apple Intelligence features were switched on in Instagram's app settings. Meta hasn't made any official announcement about the lack of Apple Intelligence in its apps at the time of writing. So all we can really do is speculate, based on what we know about Meta and its relationship with Apple. The most obvious point to consider is that Meta is also heavily investing in AI, and can be considered a rival to Apple in that sector. A conspiratorially-minded person might assume that Meta is simply trying to push people towards using its own Meta AI, and not rely on a rival system. It's also possible that Meta has taken exception to Apple Intelligence for some reason, and doesn't want someone else's AI getting access to user accounts. Even if those users opted-in to allow Apple Intelligence access in the first place. It's something that could happen more and more once Siri's long-promised upgrades start rolling out. It's also worth mentioning that Apple and Meta have a pretty strained relationship at times. Meta has often clashed with Apple over App Store guidelines, and Apple's strict policies regarding user data. Privacy policies are also reported to have played a major role in killing a potential deal between the two, which could have brought Meta's AI to Apple Intelligence. We've reached out to Meta and will update this story when we hear back. But for now it seems we're all going to have to learn to live without Apple Intelligence in Meta-owned apps.

Apple Intelligence Not Available in Meta Apps Like Facebook, Instagram

Apple has seemingly had one of its most useful AI tools blocked from Meta's apps. Writing Tools, which is an Apple Intelligence feature, is not available to use in Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Threads, and Messenger. Apple's Writing Tools include options to proofread, rewrite, and summarize text almost anywhere you can type in iOS 18. A long press in a text input field usually brings up the feature, but not in any of Meta's apps currently. Brazilian blog Sorcererhat Tech spotted the lack of Writing Tools across Meta's apps. Developers can choose whether to allow the tools in their apps, so it looks as if Meta has declined the offer. According to a Wall Street Journal report from June 2024, Apple held discussions with Meta about integrating the Facebook owner's AI model into iOS 18 as part of its Apple Intelligence feature set. However, Apple turned down the AI partnership due to privacy concerns. Apple instead ended up signing a deal with OpenAI to include optional ChatGPT access in its Siri responses. Given the history of acrimony between the two companies - from Apple device interoperability demands to App Store feuds - it's not all that surprising that Meta would choose to keep Apple's AI out of its apps. Meta has also since rolled out its own AI features across its platforms.

Meta Walls Off Apple Intelligence from Facebook and WhatsApp

Instead, iPhone users will have to rely on Meta AI for any kind of text or image generation within Meta's apps. Apple hasn't had a smooth sailing with its AI release. While we continue to see new AI features via iOS updates, Apple Intelligence has been at the receiving end of constant criticism following lengthy delays and underwhelming features, even facing a legal challenge for deceptively marketing its AI features on the iPhone 16. Fortunately, developers have a choice whether to include them on their apps. And, the latest one to make this call is Meta, which has reportedly blocked Apple Intelligence on its iOS apps. According to Sorcererhat Tech, Meta appears to be blocking certain Apple Intelligence features on its apps on iPhones. One of its standout features - Writing tools that's intended to work across apps for creating and rephrasing text with Apple Intelligence do not work on Meta apps including Facebook, Threads, and WhatsApp. The feature, which is accessible upon tapping on a text field inside apps, no longer appears inside Meta's iOS apps. The same is true for the Genmoji feature, which uses Apple Intelligence to create personalized emojis. It seems like Meta has removed the ability to add iOS stickers on its Instagram app, after a recent update. Meta hasn't shared any reasons for the unavailability of Apple Intelligence features. We think this might have a lot to do because of its Meta AI, which offers its own version of generating texts and images. Meta AI is accessible across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. So, it doesn't make sense for the company to allow Apple Intelligence to work on these apps. This isn't a surprising move from Meta, as the company has had a fair share of disagreements with Apple. But it affects iPhone users the most. The inability to use Apple's AI on Meta apps further elevates concerns about Apple Intelligence and its future. What do you think about this move? Do you think Meta is right to block Apple's AI on its apps? Or would you rather use Meta AI? Let us know in the comments.