Apple Intelligence is nearly all Apple can discuss this yr. The most recent merchandise launched int he second half of 2024 are all “Constructed for Apple Intelligence” and each one of many advertisements for the brand new iPhones focuses fully on it.
However if you happen to obtained an iPhone 16 in September, you needed to look forward to an iOS replace to get the primary Apple Intelligence options. And even if you happen to obtained one in December after the iOS 18.1 and 18.2 updates, if you happen to weren’t listening to the brand new characteristic playing cards that pop up after the replace, Apple Intelligence isn’t operating in your iPhones.
So if you happen to’re questioning why Apple Intelligence is lacking out of your iPhone, right here’s the way you flip it on.
Apple Intelligence: What you want
For starters, you’ll want a appropriate iPhone. Apple Intelligence solely works on an iPhone 15 Professional or iPhone 15 Professional Max, or any iPhone 16 mannequin.
You’ll additionally want iOS 18.1 or later–Apple Intelligence options are being launched in levels, with much more options coming in later iOS updates all through 2025. Right here’s a broad schedule of Apple Intelligence options and if you’ll get them.
Apple Intelligence can also be accessible on any Apple silicon-based Mac or iPad in addition to the A17 Professional iPad mini with macOS 15.1 or iPadOS 18.1 or later.
Lastly, you additionally want each your system settings and Siri language to be set to a supported language. Proper now these are: English (Australia), English (Canada), English (Eire), English (New Zealand), English (South Africa), English (UK), and English (US). Extra languages shall be added in 2025.
Apple Intelligence: Flip it on
Apple Intelligence isn’t turned on by default, It is advisable to allow it to get began and may flip it off at any time. To get going, open Settings (System Settings on Mac), then choose Apple Intelligence & Siri.
On the following display screen, faucet Get Apple Intelligence.

Apple
Your iPhone (or Mac or iPad) will begin downloading the Apple Intelligence fashions in your language. It’s a number of gigabytes and would possibly take some time on a slower connection.
Apple Intelligence: Allow ChatGPT
With iOS 18.2, Apple added built-in assist for ChatGPT in Apple Intelligence. It may be used with Siri, Writing Instruments, and Visible Intelligence.
Open Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and search for the ChatGPT menu underneath the “Extensions” heading.
For extra on ChatGPT integration, together with examples of how you should use it and the way to log in to your OpenAI account if you happen to’re a ChatGPT subscriber, learn our information.
Apple Intelligence: Discover the brand new options
As soon as the fashions are downloaded and put in you can begin utilizing practically all the Apple Intelligence options. Some issues are computerized, reminiscent of notification summaries, which is able to scan associated notifications and summarize them into a fast blurb, and Mail summaries, which distills longer messages in your Major inbox right into a blurb that calls out the essential bits.
Different options you’ll be able to play with are:
Writing Instruments: Click on the arrow to the correct of the textual content tray above the keyboard to open the menu after which choose the Writing Instruments button (the one that appears like an Apple Intelligence brand with a pencil inside it). This can convey up quite a few choices, together with proofreading and rewriting textual content, summarizing and organizing textual content, and composing textual content, which requires Chat GPT (see above).
Picture Playground: This can be a separate app that you just’ll see in your iPhone if you set up iOS 18.2. (It’s the one with an image of a white kitten inside a bubble.) Launch it and also you’ll be capable of sort a immediate to get a photograph in both illustration or animation model. You may also drag a photograph of an individual to show them into an illustration.
Genmoji: On the emoji keyboard, you’ll discover a new button to the correct of the search bar. Faucet it and also you’ll enter Apple’s Genmoji creator, which lets you make any emoji you need (with some apparent restrictions) and use it simply as you’d an everyday emoji. As soon as created, it’ll seem within the emoji listing on all your gadgets.
Picture Wand: When in Notes, there’s a brand new instrument referred to as Picture Wand. When sketching an image, click on the brand new wand instrument subsequent to the ruler and also you’ll be capable of flip it into knowledgeable sketch by describing what you need it to be.
Visible Intelligence: This one’s solely for the brand new iPhone 16 fashions. If you click on and maintain the Digicam Management button for a second, you’ll enter Visible Intelligence, which is able to allow you to work together with what the digicam sees, whether or not it’s a avenue register a overseas language, a restaurant, or a pair of sneakers you need to purchase.