Apple Intelligence will be turned on by default with iOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Qubix Studio)

Apple Intelligence has been opt in since it debuted in Oct. 2024, but the next iOS will automatically turn it on.
The change is set to rollout with iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3
Anyone can still turn it off in Settings, if you like.

Whether you’ve been waiting for Genmoji, Image Playground, or Notification Summaries – and the ability to turn these on or off on a per-app basis – the next version of iOS and macOS for your Apple Intelligence capable iPhone or Mac will toss you right into the deep end.

As spotted by 9to5Mac in the latest developers' 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’ll be turned on by default…so if you want to opt-out, you’ll need to hop into settings and turn it off.

It won’t be too much of a surprise that Apple Intelligence will be enabled, though, as the onboarding you'll see after you update the device will likely make it clear that it’s being turned on and what you’ll get.

Apple Intelligence currently offers an enhanced Siri – though not the entirely generational leap that is 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 iPhone 16 Plus — (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Apple writes in the release notes for the latest beta of iOS 18.3, “For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices. To disable Apple Intelligence, users will need to navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle. This will disable Apple Intelligence features on their device.”

This change to auto-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 software for testing and Apple encourages folks 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, don’t introduce any of the already announced and very anticipated Apple Intelligence features. It’s more focused on bug squashing and offering more control around the criticized Notifications Summaries feature.

iOS 18.3 Notification summaries on iPhone 16 Pro Max — (Image credit: Future / Apple)

With the latest edition of software, summaries for ‘News and Entertainment apps’ 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 make you aware that it’s in beta.

Considering Apple has rolled out the release candidate of 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 for all eligible devices at some point in the near future.

And if you haven’t yet turned on Apple Intelligence, know that iOS 18.3 and its macOS and iPadOS equivalents will do so; just promise me you’ll have fun making Genmojis.

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Jacob Krol is the US Managing Editor, News for TechRadar. He’s been writing about technology since he was 14 when he started his own tech blog. Since then Jacob has worked for a plethora of publications including CNN Underscored, TheStreet, Parade, Men’s Journal, Mashable, CNET, and CNBC among others.

He specializes in covering companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google and going hands-on with mobile devices, smart home gadgets, TVs, and wearables. In his spare time, you can find Jacob listening to Bruce Springsteen, building a Lego set, or binge-watching the latest from Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars.