Apple Activates AI Features by Default in Latest Device Software Update
Apple releases a new software update that automatically enables Apple Intelligence for supported iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The update also disables the controversial AI notification summaries for news apps.
Apple releases a new software update for iPhones, iPads, and Macs that turns Apple Intelligence on by default for users with supported devices. This change means users no longer need to manually download AI models or navigate a setup prompt to access the features. Instead, the AI suite activates automatically during the device onboarding process after installing iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, or macOS Sequoia 15.3.
This update marks a significant milestone in Apple's deliberate rollout of its artificial intelligence suite, which remains in beta and is limited to English-speaking countries. By enabling the system by default, Apple exposes a much larger number of users to tools that rewrite text, generate images, and summarize long emails. Users who do not want the AI features must actively navigate to the settings menu to turn them off.
The software release also addresses recent controversy by officially disabling AI summaries for news app notifications. This rollback occurs because the summarization tool gains a reputation for displaying inaccurate facts and twisting the context of news alerts. The move serves as one of the most notable examples of Apple removing an AI feature due to subpar performance.