After months of hype and anticipation, Apple is finally set to release its first wave ofAIfeatures to compatible products within its lineup.Apple Intelligence, as the company has titled its AI tool set, is launching over the course of several months, and across multiple software updates.
TheiOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS 15.1 Sequoia updates bring with them the very first of Apple Intelligence, but with a catch – only some of the company’s products will support this newfound AI prowess. Here are all the Apple devices that are being endowed withWriting Tools, image Clean Up, audio transcription summarization, and more.
Apple Intelligence is officially available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Apple’s first set of AI features, which the company calls Apple Intelligence, are now available via a software update.
What devices work with Apple Intelligence?
The company’s first batch of AI tools are rolling out now
The following devices are confirmed by Apple to be receiving the AI treatment:
From a Mac perspective, onlyApple Silicon-based computers are capable of running Apple Intelligence. Pre-2020 Intel-based Macs won’t be receiving these new AI enhancements. The only iPads capable of running Apple Intelligence, meanwhile, are those with an M1 chip and later, as well as therecently released iPad Mini 7th generation, which features an A17 Pro chip.
As for the iPhone, you’ll need a newer generation product with either an A17 Pro or an A18 chip, which translates to eitherlast year’s Promodels, or one of thecurrent-generation handsets.
The company’s Visual Intelligence tool will be coming exclusively to the Camera Control button-equipped iPhone 16 lineup.
While most of the Apple Intelligence feature set will be available across all compatible devices, the company’s Visual Intelligence tool will be coming exclusively to the Camera Control button-equipped iPhone 16 lineup. Visual Intelligence is aGoogle Lens-style feature that lets you point your camera at real world objects in order to receive contextually relevant search results and other pertinent data.
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The Apple Intelligence’s rollout will be slow and steady
Apple is sprinkling its AI feature set across multiple releases
In typical Apple fashion, the company’s approach to generative AI has followed the mantra of ‘not the first, but the best.’ Its big tech competitors – including Microsoft, Meta, and others – have been bullish on AI, which has pressured Apple to enter the scene in a big way.
This first wave of Apple Intelligence is rather limited in scope, andperhaps purposefully so.Headlining features such as ChatGPT integration, on-device emoji and image generation tools, and further enhancements to the Siri experience are coming down the road, which should give the company plenty of time to control the release and avoid any sort ofAI-related PR disasterfrom occurring.
Apple’s staggered AI release schedule is also both region and language dependent.
Apple’s staggered AI release schedule is also both region and language dependent – Apple Intelligence will only be available in US English to start with,expanding into other languagesincluding German, Italian, and Korean next year. Non-US English-speaking countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom, will receive official localization as early as December.
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In the case of both the European Union and the Chinese markets, Apple Intelligence is currently unavailable. Due to a mix of various state regulations,The Digital Markets Act, and other behind-the-scenes circumstances, the availability of these AI features has been the subject of contention. While we don’t yet have an ETA for when we might see AI hit compatible Apple products in China, we do have an update for the EU in specific.
According to a newly publishedEuropean press releasefrom the company, Apple Intelligence features are slated to begin rolling out to iPhone and iPad users starting in April 2025. Interestingly, European Mac users who set their language to US English, can currently access Apple Intelligence on the freshly-released macOS 15.1 Sequoia.
“Once Apple Intelligence is available in the EU or China mainland, previously purchased iPhone models that support Apple Intelligence will be able to activate and use it in that region,” anApple support documentsays.
Apple’s slow adoption of AI has resulted in a fair bit of criticism.
Apple’s slow adoption of AI has resulted in a fair bit of criticism. Plenty of customers and analystshave been left scratching their headsover the lack of coinciding Apple Intelligence features on both theiPhone 16 seriesand the brand-newiPad mini 7. These devices are being heavily marketed as AI-ready products, and yet they’re only now receiving the digital equivalent of an appetizer.
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