How ChatGPT Integration Works in Apple Intelligence [Complete Guide]

Since Apple announced the ChatGPT Integration in Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024, fans have been waiting to get their hands on this feature. Five months down, the much-awaited ChatGPT integration finally arrives with the iOS 18.2 developed beta released on October 23, 2024. The iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 betas bring the second set of Apple Intelligence features for testing purposes. In addition to ChatGPT Integration, the latest betas include some impressive AI features, including Genmoji, Image Playground, and iPhone 16 Visual Intelligence. Read on to learn how ChatGPT Integration works for Apple Intelligence on iPhone, Mac, and iPad.

ChatGPT Integration in Apple Intelligence

Most of the Apple Intelligence features are processed locally, on the device (iPhone, iPad, and Mac). For advanced features that require complex data, Apple uses an Apple Silicon-powered cloud called “Private Cloud Compute”, which is designed for private AI processing. Depending on your queries, Apple Intelligence handles the task on the device or offloads them to the cloud.

As a part of its AI strategy, Apple has teamed up with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT across the system. This will allow Apple’s AI system to handle on-device intelligence as well as complex queries that are beyond the capabilities of Siri and other native tools. Apple has integrated ChatGPT into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, allowing users to access it via Siri, Writing Tools, and other first-party apps & features.

ChatGPT Integration in Apple Intelligence has two primary functions. First, it integrates with Siri to supplement its knowledge base. When a user asks a complicated question that Siri can’t handle, it will by default seek your permission to hand off that query to ChatGPT. Then, the response will be relayed through Siri. ‌To preserve your privacy, Apple and OpenAI won’t log any ChatGPT requests made from Apple devices, and IP addresses will be hidden.

Second, ChatGPT can help compose text in Writing Tools. While using Writing Tools, you can simply describe what you want, and ChatGPT will create it for you. We’ll discuss more on this in the coming sections.

Prerequisites to Use ChatGPT Integration

• You can use ChatGPT Integration only on Apple Intelligence-supported devices.
• The device must be running iOS 18.2, iPad OS 18.2, or macOS Sequoia 15.2 (currently in developer beta). Here’s how to install iOS 18 beta.
• You must change the language on your device to English (US), English (UK), English (Australia), English (Canada), English (New Zealand), or English (South Africa) to access Apple Intelligence features.

How to Set Up ChatGPT Integration on iPhone or iPad

ChatGPT isn’t turned on by default on supported Apple devices. You have to turn on both Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT individually. You can do it during the set-up process or later in Settings.

The ChatGPT integration is free. So, you won’t have to create an account or download the standalone app to use ChatGPT features on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You will have access to all OpenAI’s models, including GPT-4. ChatGPT subscribers can connect accounts to access paid features. Without the premium account, you can access a limited number of queries. Bear in mind, that if you use ChatGPT without an account, ChatGPT won’t log your requests to train its models. If you sign in and choose to connect your account, ChatGPT can keep a record of your requests.

Follow the below steps to turn on ChatGPT Integration on your iPhone or iPad:

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad
• Navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri section.
• Here, scroll down to tap on ChatGPT under the “Extend Apple Intelligence & Siri” section.

• Now, tap on the Set-Up option next to ChatGPT.

• Tap on Next and then hit the Enable ChatGPT button.

• If you’re a ChatGPT paid subscriber, tap on Use ChatGPT with an Account. On the next screen, tap on Sign In and Enable ChatGPT to connect your account.

• The ChatGPT toggle will now turn green on your device. You can anytime choose to Sign In or Sign out of ChatGPT on your Apple device.
• If you want Siri to ask for your permission before sending any requests to ChatGPT, keep the Confirm ChatGPT Requests option turned on.

How to Use ChatGPT Integration on iPhone or iPad

You can use ChatGPT Integration in iOS 18 18 via Siri, Writing Tools, and other first-party apps & features. I tried using ChatGPT integration in Siri and Writing Tools to know how it fares.

ChatGPT Integration in Siri

With ChatGPT Integration, Siri has become a lot more powerful, capable, and complete. Now, you don’t need the ChatGPT app and set up any shortcut to get ChatGPT to work with Siri. With iOS 18, the ChatGPT services are baked right into Siri, making them much easier to access. With this capability, Siri can now handle more complex tasks like planning an itinerary or discovering new recipes.

Here’s how to use ChatGPT in Siri on iPhone or iPad:

• Invoke Siri on your iPhone or iPad.
• Now, you can ask any question. I asked Siri to plan a two-day trip to London.
• Siri will then ask your permission to use ChatGPT to fetch a response to your query. Hit the Use ChatGPT button to allow Siri to use ChatGPT Integration.

• Now, Siri will respond to your query using information from ChatGPT.

I tried asking different questions like suggestions for a five-course Chinese meal for vegetarians, planning a four-day trip to Europe, comparing iOS 18 with Android 15, and more. In most cases, Siri delivered a quick response.

However, there was a slight delay in invoking Siri most of the time. Also, sometimes it displayed “Unable to create content at the moment. Try again later”. This usually happens when I dictate my query in one go. Siri feels a little slow at the moment. Well, the Apple Intelligence is currently in Beta, and so is the ChatGPT integration. That’s why there’s a slight delay and minor issues. Apple will surely fix these little annoyances in the polished version.

ChatGPT Integration in Writing Tools

Apple also allows you to use ChatGPT to generate text with its Writing Tools feature. When you open Notes, Mail, Pages, or any other app that supports Writing Tools, you’ll see a new Compose option. Also, there’s a new ‘Describe your change’ text field so you get more control over the generated text. Here’s how to use ChatGPT in Writing Tools:

• Open Notes or any other app that supports Writing Tools.
• Now, tap on the Writing Tools option from the top. If you don’t see this option, select the text and then choose Writing Tools.
• Now, tap on the Compose option at the bottom of the Writing Tools window.

• You can now tap on the text field at the top to describe what you would like to write and ChatGPT will do it for you.

For instance, I asked ChatGPT to create an invitation for an office Diwali party. It then asked for additional details like venue, time, etc. Within a few seconds, it created a nice invitation. If needed, you can ask ChatGPT to make changes.

Since Apple Intelligence is in beta, the ChatGPT integration doesn’t work fast. At the moment, it feels like a hit-or-miss feature. Sometimes, it generates text within seconds and sometimes you’re stuck in a never-ending loop that requires a reboot. Of course, Apple will iron out such glitches in the stable version.

That’s how ChatGPT Integration works in Apple Intelligence. This system-wide ChatGPT integration is hands down an impressive feature of Apple’s AI system.

What do you think about Apple Intelligence? Did you try ChatGPT with Siri? Tell us in the comments below.