Apple Intelligence on Mac: what it is, what it does, and how to use it

Apple Intelligence is Apple’s new personal intelligence system built into macOS Sequoia (version 15.1 and later) and other recent iOS and iPadOS updates. It harnesses the power of on-device machine learning and Apple Silicon to deliver intelligent features that personalize your Mac experience and boost productivity. Unlike traditional AI assistants, Apple Intelligence prioritizes user privacy – all processing happens on your device, keeping your data secure.

Apple Intelligence features you can use on Mac

Now that you know the basics of Apple Intelligence, here are the key features that enhance your Mac experience with AI-driven assistance:

• Writing Assistance: Offers tone adjustments for emails, notes, and documents, making your writing sound more personalized or professional.
• Intelligent Notifications: Stays informed without getting overwhelmed. Apple Intelligence automatically summarizes notifications, prioritizing important information.
• Conversational Siri: Interacts with Siri more naturally. Ask complex questions, request specific tasks, and enjoy more engaging conversations.
• Webpage Summaries: Provides the key points of webpages with concise summaries generated by AI.
• Intelligent Photo Search: Finds photos effortlessly using natural language queries.
• Audio Transcription: Converts audio recordings into searchable text for easy reference.

As Apple continues to updates macOS 15, we’re sure there will be more features added in the near future.

How to enable and use Apple Intelligence on Mac

Growing up, we’re told that hard work could get us anything we wanted. But with Apple’s Intelligence, we can writing with your tone or drawing imaginable just by typing or selecting a suggestion. These AI features in Apple Intelligence let you summarize text from simple prompts, opening up exciting possibilities for productivity and creativity. Here’s a breakdown of how to access and utilize Apple Intelligence’s functions on your Mac.

Requirements

Apple has several restrictions for those wanting to try Apple Intelligence for the first time:

• Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 chip or above)
• macOS Sequoia (version 15.1 or later)
• Siri and device language set to US English (initially)

Enable Apple Intelligence on your MacBook

1. Click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen.
2. Select “System Settings”.
3. Go to “Apple Intelligence & Siri”.
4. Click “Join the Apple Intelligence Waitlist”.

Once you receive notification that Apple Intelligence is available for your device, follow these steps to get started:

1. Go back to “System Settings” > “Apple Intelligence & Siri”.
2. You’ll see a toggle switch for “Apple Intelligence”. Turn it on.

How to use Apple Intelligence’s writing tools

Apple Intelligence’s writing tools can significantly improve your writing. To use them:

• Highlight the text you want to improve (email, document, etc.).
• Right-click and select “Writing Tools” from the context menu.
• And then choose from options like Proofread, Make Friendly, or Summarize.

Writing Tools offer a suite of AI-powered options to elevate your writing:

• Identify potential grammatical errors, awkward phrasing, or areas for clarity improvement.
• Explore alternative word choices and sentence structures to enhance your writing style.
• Generate a concise summary of the highlighted text, perfect for capturing key points.

Our Take: While similar to services like ChatGPT, Apple Intelligence’s integration within apps is a clear advantage. Accessing tools directly from a text menu eliminates the need for switching apps. Additionally, the focus on on-device processing ensures your data stays private.

How to use Apple Intelligence in Mail

Apple Intelligence prioritizes important emails and automatically summarizes lengthy threads. You can use it in Mail to sort, flag, and draft emails more efficiently, and adjust these preferences in Mail settings.

• Open the Mail app and select an inbox.
• Choose View > Show Priority for important messages.
• Select an email and click Summarize at the top of the message for a quick overview.
• For replies, click Reply, then choose suggested themes for a draft response.

Our Take: Compared to similar tools, Apple Intelligence’s Mail features feel intuitive but could benefit from additional customization options.

How to use ‘Type to Siri’ on Mac (and iPhone)

To engaging with Siri:

• Launch Siri by double-tapping the Command key.
• Click on any text field on your Mac where you’d typically type text.
• Look for the microphone icon next to the cursor.
• Click it to activate Siri dictation.
• Speak your request or question naturally, just like you’d talk to a friend.

Siri can now handle follow-up questions naturally without needing repeated context. You can also ask Siri to perform tasks like setting reminders, sending messages, making calls, searching the web, and controlling smart home devices.

Our Early Take: Siri’s new flexibility makes daily interactions faster and more human-like, though complex tasks might still have limitations.

How to summarize text and notifications

We truely appreciate Apple Intelligence’s summarization feature, it quickly summarizes long emails or message threads. Ideal for time-sensitive notifications, summaries give a high-level overview at a glance.

To summarize notifications:

1. Open System Settings > Notifications.
2. Enable Summarize Notifications under Notification Center settings.

For text summarization:

1. Highlight text in any editable app.
2. Right-click, go to Writing Tools, and select options like Summarize, Create Key Points, or Make List.

BTW, Apple Intelligence can sometimes provide summaries of webpages within Notification Center. While not a dedicated feature, if you receive a link in a message or notification, Apple Intelligence may generate brief overviews of webpages.

Our Take: Although accurate and quick, this feature may not capture subtle nuances. For straightforward messages, however, it’s efficient.

How to use Image Playground

Image Playground is a revolutionary new feature within Apple Intelligence on Mac (currently in beta). This AI-powered tool lets you create unique images based on simple text descriptions. Here’s how to unlock your inner artist and explore the possibilities:

1. Accessing Image Playground
   First, please note Image Playground may not be readily available yet. You might need to join a waitlist or receive an update notification before accessing it.
2. Bringing Your Imagination to Life
   Once available, open Image Playground through the Applications folder or by searching for it using Spotlight. You’ll see a text box prompting you to “Describe an image.” Here’s where the magic happens! Use clear and concise language to describe the image you want to create. Be specific about details like colors, objects, and overall mood.
3. Witnessing AI in Action
   Click “Generate” to watch Image Playground create an image based on your description. Generation times vary with prompt complexity.
4. Refining Your Vision (Optional)
   If the initial image doesn’t align perfectly with your idea, refine it by adjusting your prompt or exploring style options like “realistic,” “watercolor,” or “cartoon” using the Style tool.
5. Saving Your Masterpiece
   Once satisfied, save your image by clicking the “Save” button and choosing a file location on your Mac.

Remember: Image Playground is still under development, so results may vary depending on the complexity of your description. However, with a little experimentation and exploration, you can unlock a world of creative possibilities.

Wrap up

Apple Intelligence offers a glimpse into the future of personal computing on Apple devices. With its focus on privacy, user-centric features, and seamless integration, it has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with our Macs. As Apple Intelligence evolves, we can expect even more innovative tools and features that empower us to be more productive and creative.