Apple Intelligence Cheat Sheet: A Complete Guide in 2026

Siri was supposed to be the future. Apple Intelligence is the tech giant’s attempt to finally deliver it.

Since October 2024, Apple has rolled out a suite of generative AI features across its devices, reshaping how users write, communicate, and manage everyday tasks. But unlike competitors that center AI around chatbots, Apple has taken a different approach, embedding intelligence directly into the operating system itself.

The result is less about opening an app and more about interacting with your device as a whole. From rewriting emails and prioritizing notifications to generating images and responding more contextually through Siri, Apple Intelligence is designed to make everyday interactions faster, more intuitive, and increasingly personalized, all while keeping user data tightly controlled.

What does Apple Intelligence do?

Apple Intelligence is an umbrella term for various generative AI features that can operate on Apple devices. It includes:

• Generative writing tools.
• Automatic summarization.
• Smart prioritization of notifications and emails.
• Photo editing.
• Automatic photo sorting.
• The ability to control some of the phone’s settings with voice commands.
• A more conversational and versatile attitude for Siri.
• Live translation.
• Personalized workouts.

Apple Intelligence stands out for how seamlessly it integrates across Apple’s ecosystem.

Tasks can begin on one device and continue on another, with AI context preserved across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This cross-device continuity allows users to draft content on a Mac, refine it on an iPhone, and execute actions using Siri without losing context, creating a more cohesive and efficient user experience.

How does Apple Intelligence work?

Apple Intelligence is enabled by Apple’s own A17 Pro, A18-series, and M-series (M1 and newer) chips, which include a neural network component that runs on-device generative operations. This means that all personal data used in AI-augmented tasks is not sent to a data center or other third party, ensuring privacy.

Users must explicitly opt in before sending requests to ChatGPT, and Apple mediates those requests to preserve privacy. The data will never be stored or shared with Apple and is used only for the task at hand. Independent experts continuously inspect the code that runs on Apple servers to ensure privacy is maintained.

Which devices have Apple Intelligence?

Apple Intelligence is available on devices with A17 Pro, A18-series, or M1 and newer chips, including iPhone 15 Pro models and later, as well as most modern iPads and Macs.

Because Apple Intelligence is tied closely to newer chip architectures, it also signals a broader shift in how Apple differentiates its devices. AI capabilities are becoming a key driver of hardware upgrades. This means users with older devices may need to upgrade not just for performance, but to access next-generation software features.

Apple Intelligence has been rolling out in the EU with delays and feature limitations due to DMA regulations. It is not available in China.

Will Apple Intelligence come to older phones?

No. Devices with hardware older than the ones listed above don’t have suitable chips to run Apple Intelligence.

How much does Apple Intelligence cost?

Apple Intelligence is free with a software upgrade on the supported devices.

When did Apple Intelligence launch?

Apple Intelligence launched on Oct. 28, 2024, with limited features, including writing tools, typing to Siri, the image Clean Up tool (which removes unwanted elements), and natural language search in Photos. More features arrived in subsequent months with the release of iOS 18.2, iOS 18.3, and iOS 18.4, including:

• Custom-made “Genmoji”: Users can create their own emojis by typing a description and can use image prompts from their Photo Library.
• Image Playground: An AI image generation app that can take text or image prompts. Users can describe or send a picture of a specific art style to apply to their work.
• Image Wand: Turns a rough sketch into a polished image.
• Writing Tools: Rewrite, proofread, and summarise text, or give a custom instruction such as “turn into a poem.” These work in Mail, Messages, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.
• Visual intelligence: Analyze real-world objects by using the device’s camera, such as identifying a plant, translating text, or turning a physical invite into a calendar event.
• Priority Notifications: AI scans Apple Mail and phone notifications and lists them by priority.
• ChatGPT integration: OpenAI’s powerful chatbot can be used with Writing Tools and Siri without switching to a browser or app.

At Apple’s 2025 Worldwide Developer Conference, Apple unveiled a range of new features that will be available on supported devices this fall. These include:

• Live translation: Written messages are translated into the target language as they are typed or received, while translations of what is being said during a FaceTime call appear in real-time captions and are read aloud on the phone.
• On-screen Visual Intelligence: After taking a screenshot, users can analyze the on-screen content using Apple Intelligence and take actions, such as searching for similar products to purchase, adding an event to their calendar, or asking ChatGPT for more info about what’s shown.
• Workout Buddy: By analyzing current and historical fitness data collected by the Apple Watch, such as heart rate and pace, an AI voice can provide personalized, motivational insights as the user runs, walks, cycles, or engages in a HIIT or functional fitness workout.
• AI-powered Shortcuts: Users can now build shortcuts that perform AI-powered actions, such as analyzing a voice recording and automatically adding only the new information to an existing document.

Apple Intelligence is currently available only when Siri and the device language are set to English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, or Chinese (simplified), and certain features work only with a subset of these languages.

Nevertheless, Apple has expanded support to additional languages, including Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (traditional), and Vietnamese.

Is Siri artificial intelligence?

The definition of AI can vary. Before the recent Apple Intelligence upgrade, Siri could have been considered a form of artificial intelligence, but not generative AI, as it performed tasks without creating or remixing content. Instead, Siri primarily executed operations based on preset functions.

Some argue that these computing capabilities shouldn’t be considered AI, as the term implies a science-fiction level of human-like intelligence that algorithms, no matter how advanced, can’t achieve. However, “AI” has become a widely accepted term for certain types of computing. Still, it might have been more accurate to call Siri a digital assistant rather than a true AI.

Siri now incorporates generative AI features, enabling more contextual and flexible responses, though it still blends traditional assistant logic with newer AI capabilities

How do I add Apple Intelligence to my iPhone?

Apple Intelligence arrived on applicable iPhones as an automatic software update in October 2024. To check for software updates manually, visit Settings > General > Software Update.

How do I activate Apple Intelligence?

On iPads or Macs, check for the free software update to iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or macOS Sequoia 15.1. From the Apple menu, navigate to System Settings > General > Software Update.

What are the competitors to Apple Intelligence?

Samsung and Google have both integrated generative AI into their newest phones.

The Google Pixel 9 series, which came out in August, uses Google Gemini for photo editing, summarization, and conversations. The Samsung Galaxy S24 series, which launched earlier this year, also uses Google Gemini and other Google AI products to provide similar capabilities.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on our sister publication, TechRepublic.

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