Apple is moving closer to transforming the way you use your iPhone by introducing “Apple Intelligence,” a suite of AI-powered features set to debut in iOS 18.
At the forefront of this development is the updated Siri, now enhanced through a partnership with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. This new version promises to make your interactions with your iPhone easier and more personal, but it also raises important questions about data privacy.
What is Apple’s intelligence and when will it arrive?
Apple Intelligence is the umbrella term for the AI improvements coming to iPhones with iOS 18. The initial iOS 18 update will roll out with the iPhone 16 launch in September, but AI features, including ChatGPT-4o integration, will be introduced in the iOS 18.1 update expected in October.
Among the first features users can expect are improved writing tools, suggested replies in Messages, email summarization, and phone call transcription. Additionally, Siri will get smarter, integrating more deeply with your apps to provide contextual responses based on your personal data, such as messages, emails, and calendar entries. Later updates will bring creative tools like Image Playground and custom emoji, known as Genmoji.
These AI capabilities will only be available on newer devices, specifically the iPhone 15 or later, or any Apple device with an M1 or M2 chip.
How will this affect your use of your iPhone?
The gradual rollout of Apple Intelligence means that the changes to your iPhone experience will be subtle at first. However, once the features are fully enabled, you should notice a more personalized and efficient experience. For example, you may find the email summarization tool useful for managing your inbox on the go, or you may appreciate the ability to transcribe phone calls with the other party’s consent.
Apple’s intelligent assistant will also be able to follow conversations more naturally, remembering previous interactions to provide more relevant responses, and a new visual indicator around the Siri icon will alert you when it’s listening, providing greater transparency.
However, as with any new technology, there may be some glitches at first. Apple CEO Tim Cook has acknowledged that while AI is expected to work well, there is no guarantee that it will be flawless from the start.
How is Siri’s ChatGPT integration different from the ChatGPT app?
When you use Siri integration with ChatGPT, Apple acts as a privacy-focused intermediary. Unlike using ChatGPT directly, where your queries go directly to OpenAI’s servers, Siri first attempts to handle requests on your device. If that’s not possible, some data may be sent to Apple’s servers, but it’s encrypted and anonymized before it’s passed to ChatGPT.
This extra layer of privacy protection is a key differentiator, ensuring your data is better protected than if you were using ChatGPT directly. Additionally, users can access GPT-4o-powered Siri without having to create an account, although those with ChatGPT subscriptions can link their accounts for additional features.
Are your conversations being tracked or stored?
Apple has emphasized that privacy is a core component of Apple Intelligence. Most of the processing will happen on your device, meaning the data typically stays on your iPhone. For more complex requests that require cloud processing, Apple will anonymize and encrypt your data before sending it to its servers or to ChatGPT.
While Apple insists it won’t store requests associated with you, there’s always a small risk that very specific queries could be linked to you. To address this, Apple is introducing the Apple Intelligence Report, a feature that provides a breakdown of how your Siri requests are processed, ensuring transparency.
Despite these assurances, the need for AI to access vast amounts of information means that enabling Apple Intelligence will require Apple to have even greater access to your personal data, including messages, calendar events, location, and photos.
Can you withdraw?
Yes, participating in Apple Intelligence is completely optional. AI features will be disabled by default, and you will need to enable them manually in Settings. This ensures that if you have concerns about privacy or the usefulness of these new features, you are not obligated to use them.