Names, versions and owners change fast. Checked October 2026.
In plain words
Apple Intelligence is a set of features, not a chatbot you download. Apple announced it in June 2024 and switched it on that October as a free software update for recent iPhones, iPads and Macs.
It shows up inside apps you already use. Writing Tools can proofread or rewrite text wherever you type. Photos can remove a stranger from the background of a picture. Image Playground makes pictures from a description, and you can make custom emoji called Genmoji. Siri, Apple's voice assistant, is part of it too.
What makes it different is where the work happens. Many requests run on the phone or laptop itself, which is called on-device AI. Bigger requests go to Apple's own servers, a system it calls Private Cloud Compute, which Apple says does not keep your data. The models doing the work are language models and image models, built by Apple with help from partners.
Everyday example
A house helper and the building's office
Picture a helper who lives in your flat and handles small jobs right there: folding clothes, sorting letters. For a big job, like fixing the water heater, they call the building's own maintenance office, which comes, does the work and leaves nothing behind. Apple Intelligence works the same way: small tasks stay on your phone, bigger ones go to Apple's servers.
Where the example breaks: You can watch a maintenance worker, but you cannot see inside Apple's servers. Apple says outside experts can verify its privacy promise, yet users still rely on Apple's design for much of it.
Latestas of October 2026
- Newest version
- Comes with iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, released in September 2026
- Siri AI
- A rebuilt Siri, in beta from 14 September 2026, in English first; French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish announced for October 2026
- Models
- Apple Foundation Models, which Apple says were custom-built in collaboration with Google and its Gemini models, under a multi-year deal announced 12 January 2026
- Languages
- Apple Intelligence supports 16 languages; Siri AI is not yet available in the EU on iPhone or in China
These details change often. The rest of this page explains what it is, which stays true.
How it actually works
Each request takes one of two paths, chosen by the system.
Small models on the device
Apple ships compact foundation models inside the operating system. They run on the device's own chip, which includes a neural processing unit, so many tasks, such as rewriting a paragraph, never leave the device.
Larger models on Apple's servers
When a task needs a bigger model, the request goes to Private Cloud Compute, Apple's own servers. Apple says data is used only for that request and is never kept, and that outside experts can check this.
Personal context
Because it sits inside the operating system, it can draw on what is on your device, such as messages, calendar and what is on screen, to give answers that fit you. This is a form of context gathering.
Models built with partners
The models are Apple's own, but Apple does not build everything alone. In January 2026 Apple and Google announced that Apple's next foundation models would be based on Google's Gemini models, while still running on Apple's devices and servers.
- Made by
- Apple
- Announced
- 10 June 2024, at Apple's developer conference
- First available
- 28 October 2024, in iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1, in US English at first
- Where it runs
- On the device, or on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers
Apple Intelligence needs fairly recent hardware, because the on-device models need a capable chip and enough memory.
Questions people ask
Is Apple Intelligence free?
It comes as part of Apple's free software updates, and Apple said at launch that Apple Intelligence is free for users. You need a supported device: fairly recent iPhones, iPads and Macs with enough memory and a capable chip.
Is Apple Intelligence the same as Siri?
No. Siri is Apple's voice assistant, and it is one part of Apple Intelligence. Apple Intelligence is the wider set of AI features across the system, including writing help, photo editing, summaries and image making.
Does Apple Intelligence use ChatGPT or Gemini?
Its main models are Apple's own. In January 2026 Apple and Google announced that Apple's newer foundation models would be built on Google's Gemini models, running on Apple's devices and servers rather than in the Gemini app. Apple has also offered optional links to outside chatbots such as ChatGPT, asking you before a question is sent.
Is Apple Intelligence available in India?
It works on supported devices when the device and Siri language are set to a language Apple supports, such as English. Apple adds languages over time, and some features differ by region, so check Apple's Apple Intelligence page for the current list.