- Apple Intelligence has been enrolled since it debuted in October 2024, but the next iOS will automatically turn it on.
- The change is set to roll out with iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3
- Everyone can still turn it off in Settings if you want.
Whether you’ve been waiting for Genmoji, Image Playground or Notification Summaries – and the ability to turn these on or off per app – the next version of iOS and macOS for your Apple Intelligence capable iPhone or Mac will throw you right into the deep end.
As seen by 9to5Mac in the latest developer betas of iOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3, the latest version of the operating system will automatically enable Apple Intelligence.
This means that if you have an iPhone, Mac or iPad that can run Apple’s suite of AI features, it will be turned on by default…so if you want to opt out, you’ll have to jump into settings and turn it off.
However, it won’t be too much of a surprise that Apple Intelligence will be enabled, as the onboarding you’ll see after you update the device will likely make it clear that it will be turned on and what you’ll get.
Apple Intelligence currently offers an improved Siri – though not quite the generational leap still promised to arrive later in 2025 – writing tools, integration with ChatGPT, Image Playground, Clean Up in Photos, custom memories in Photos and Genmoji, among others.
Apple writes in the release notes for the latest beta version of iOS 18.3, “For users new to or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be automatically enabled during iPhone onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices. To disable Apple Intelligence, users must navigate to the Apple Intelligence panel & Siri Settings and turn off the Apple Intelligence switch. This will disable Apple Intelligence features on their device.”
This change to automatically enable the AI suite of features out of the box comes after Apple Intelligence has been out since October 28, 2024 with the release of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 – many of the features are still labeled as beta even in the latest versions of the software for testing, and Apple encourages people to share feedback.
iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3, which all dropped release candidate versions of the developer beta today, do not introduce any of the already announced and highly anticipated Apple Intelligence features. It’s more focused on bug squashing and offers more control around the criticized message overview feature.
With the latest version of the software, ‘News & Entertainment apps’ listings are turned off by default, you can turn the feature off on a per-app basis, and these will be presented in italics to better alert you that it’s in beta.
Given that Apple has rolled out the release candidate for the developer betas of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3, the public beta equivalent of these will likely roll out next, followed by a full release to all eligible devices at some point in the near future .
And if you haven’t turned on Apple Intelligence yet, know that iOS 18.3 and its macOS and iPadOS equivalents will; just promise me you’ll have fun making Genmojis.
