Apple has rolled out a new software update that automatically enables Apple Intelligence for users with supported devices. The updates—iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3—mark a major step in Apple’s AI integration across its product ecosystem.
Apple Intelligence Now On by Default
Previously, users with supported iPhones had to manually activate Apple Intelligence during setup, a process that involved downloading AI models. With this update, the feature will be turned on by default upon installing the latest software.
“For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding,” Apple stated in its developer release notes.
Users who prefer not to use the feature will have to manually disable it through the Apple Intelligence settings in the Settings app.
Apple’s AI Push and Limited Rollout
Apple Intelligence is a critical part of Apple’s strategy to differentiate itself from competitors by offering deeply integrated AI features within iPhones and other Apple devices.
However, Apple has taken a slow and controlled approach to rolling out AI capabilities:
- The Apple Intelligence suite remains in beta.
- It is only available in a few English-speaking countries.
- Apple is ensuring it has sufficient server capacity before a full-scale release.
AI Summarization for News Disabled
One of the most significant changes in this update is Apple’s decision to disable AI-powered news summaries following controversy over inaccurate notifications. The feature, which condensed news headlines into short notifications, came under fire after several errors were reported.
In one notable instance, Apple’s AI system misinterpreted a BBC Sports notification and falsely stated that:
“Brazilian tennis player, Rafael Nadal, comes out as gay.”
Nadal, in reality, is Spanish and is married to Maria Francisca Perello.
As a result, Apple has paused AI summarization for news and entertainment apps. A BBC spokesperson acknowledged the move:
“We’re pleased that Apple has listened to our concerns and is pausing the summarization feature for news.”
AI Transparency Enhancements
Apple is also improving transparency in how AI-generated notifications are displayed. With the latest update, notifications created by Apple Intelligence will now appear in italics, distinguishing them from standard app notifications.
AI Summarization May Return
Despite temporarily disabling AI-generated news summaries, Apple has indicated that the feature will return in a future update once improvements are made.
Apple joins other major tech firms, including Google and Microsoft, in rolling back flawed AI features that produced misleading or harmful content.
Conclusion
Apple’s latest update brings its AI integration closer to a full-scale launch, though it has faced early challenges with misinformation. While Apple Intelligence is now on by default, users can opt out, and further refinements to AI-powered features are expected in future updates.
