Apple Intelligence

Apple’s requirements page for the current release says Apple Intelligence in macOS 27 is available on Mac with M1 or later and on MacBook Neo (A18 Pro). Intel Macs are not on the list. Apple says the features are automatically available on eligible devices once you update to the 27.0 release, in supported languages and regions.

Apple Intelligence was already in earlier releases. Apple’s Mac User Guide for macOS Sequoia 15 describes it as available in beta on Mac models with M1 or later, and the guide for macOS Tahoe 26 has a Turn on Apple Intelligence button under Apple Intelligence & Siri in System Settings.

• Mac: M1 or later, or MacBook Neo (A18 Pro).
• System: macOS 27 Golden Gate for the current feature set. Writing Tools and many other features are listed for macOS Tahoe 26 and later.
• Storage: up to 14 GB on Mac models with M3 or later and at least 12GB of unified memory, and up to 8 GB on other eligible Macs.
• Language: the device language and the Siri language must be set to the same supported language.
• Region: Apple says the features do not currently work in China mainland, and some features vary by region and language.

Writing Tools is the part of Apple Intelligence that edits text. Apple says it is available in most places you write, including third-party apps and websites. It works the same way on text you typed and text you dictated, because it only sees the selected text.

1. 01 Select the text you want to refine or summarize.
2. 02 Control-click the selection, choose Writing Tools, then choose Show Writing Tools.
3. 03 Click Proofread to check the text, or click Rewrite to get a new version.
4. 04 To set a tone for the rewrite, click Friendly, Professional or Concise. To ask for something specific, click Describe a change and type what you want.
5. 05 Click Summarize or Key Points if you want a shorter version instead.
6. 06 Click Done when you are finished.

Apple does not say that it does. The requirements page lists every feature Apple Intelligence powers in macOS 27 and macOS 26, and Dictation is not among them. The Mac User Guide pages for Apple Intelligence, Writing Tools and Apple Intelligence privacy do not mention Dictation either.

Dictation stays where it was, at System Settings, Keyboard, Dictation, and it works on Macs that cannot run Apple Intelligence. Its privacy terms are set out on Apple’s separate Siri, Dictation & Privacy page. In practice the two fit together in sequence: you dictate a rough draft, then select it and use Writing Tools to proofread or rewrite it.

On macOS 27, Apple also offers Siri AI in beta, which can compose, rewrite, proofread and give feedback on writing. Apple says Writing Tools is available for users without Siri AI writing support.

Apple says that in many cases Apple Intelligence models run entirely on device, so a task can be completed without data leaving your Mac. For requests that need more computing power, the Mac can send the request to Private Cloud Compute, which runs larger models on Apple silicon servers.

Apple states that data processed in Private Cloud Compute is not stored or made accessible to Apple. It is used only to fulfill your request, the results are returned to your device, and nothing is retained. Apple also says independent researchers can inspect the software that runs on those servers.

Apple’s pages do not say, feature by feature, whether a given Writing Tools request stays on the Mac or goes to Private Cloud Compute. The Mac decides for each request. Apple notes that it may collect limited information about a server request, such as its approximate size and how long it took, and that this does not include the content.

macOS can keep a log of requests that left your Mac for Private Cloud Compute, and you can export it. Apple’s Mac User Guide calls the setting Apple Intelligence Report, and Apple’s privacy page calls it Apple Intelligence & PCC Report.

1. 01 Open System Settings and click Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
2. 02 Click the Apple Intelligence report setting.
3. 03 Choose a report duration: the last 15 minutes or the last 7 days.
4. 04 Use Apple Intelligence as you normally would, so that there are requests to record.
5. 05 Come back and click Export Activity, choose where to save the file, then click Export.
6. 06 Open the saved file, named Apple_Intelligence_Report.json, in a text reader.

How you turn it off depends on the version of macOS. In macOS Tahoe 26, Apple’s guide describes a single control under Apple Intelligence & Siri in System Settings. In macOS 27, Apple’s guide lists the features one by one, each with its own switch.

• Siri AI: open System Settings, click Siri in the sidebar, click Turn Off Siri, then confirm.
• Message summaries: in Messages, choose Messages, Settings, then turn off Summarize Messages.
• Email summaries: in Mail, choose Mail, Settings, click Viewing, then turn off Summarize Message Previews.
• Notification summaries: open System Settings, click Notifications, click Summarize Notifications, then turn it off.
• Limits for yourself or a child: use the Siri restrictions in Screen Time settings.