Apple is making a significant shift in how it implements AI features across its ecosystem, marking a new chapter in the company's approach to artificial intelligence integration. The upcoming release of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS 15.3 represents a strategic move to make AI capabilities more accessible to users while maintaining the option for personal choice.
Default AI Integration
Apple Intelligence will now be automatically enabled for both new users and those upgrading to the latest operating system versions. This marks a departure from the previous opt-in approach, signaling Apple's growing confidence in its AI capabilities. The feature will be activated during the initial device setup process, particularly during Mac onboarding, providing immediate access to AI-powered functionalities.
Device Compatibility and Storage Requirements
The AI features are exclusively available on newer Apple devices, including the iPhone 15 Pro series and devices equipped with Apple Silicon M1 chip or later. The storage requirement for Apple Intelligence has increased significantly, now consuming approximately 7GB of space, up from the initial 4GB. This storage allocation remains reserved even after disabling the feature, indicating the substantial computational resources required for on-device AI processing.
Compatible Devices:
- iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
- iPhone 16 series
- iPad Pro with M1 chip or later
- iPad Air with M1 chip or later
- iPad mini with A17 Pro chip
- Macs with M1 chip or later
User Control and Privacy Options
Despite the default activation, Apple maintains user autonomy by providing a straightforward opt-out process. Users can disable Apple Intelligence through the dedicated Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane, which will deactivate all associated AI features. This approach balances convenience with user choice, allowing individuals to determine their level of AI engagement.
Storage Requirements:
- Current: 7GB
- Previous: 4GB
- Storage increase: 75%
Feature Improvements and Updates
Apple is actively refining its AI capabilities, particularly in response to recent challenges. Following accuracy issues with AI-generated notification summaries, the company has implemented clearer identification of AI-generated content and temporarily paused certain news-related summaries. The update also introduces new features like Genmoji for Mac users, allowing custom emoji creation based on text descriptions and photo library content.
Future Developments
Looking ahead to spring 2025, Apple plans more substantial enhancements with iOS/iPadOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4. These updates are expected to bring significant improvements to Siri, including on-screen awareness and third-party app integration, further expanding the AI capabilities across Apple's ecosystem.