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macOS Sequoia 15.3 and iOS 18.3 Enable Apple Intelligence Automatically
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As I said in my original post, Apple does not provide an MDM setting to disable Apple Intelligence completely. They are giving us Mac Admins the ability to disable certain feature, but it cannot be completely turned off.
This is a non-starter for companies in heavily regulated industries. They can not have AI features enabled on a computer, period.
That being said, despite what Apple says in the release notes, several members of the Mac Admin community have NOT been able to confirm what Apple states. Upgrading to 15.3, or even setting up a brand new computer with 15.3, does not enable AI by default. We are still testing, but Apple needs to be a little more transparent.
But what is the alternative? Google collects even more data and you definitely can’t opt out (no toggle even). Linux phone?
If only we don’t have a duopoly. Way to invest in Linux phone, people.
And even that might not be able to work, considering disabling settings don’t really disable underlying feature themselves. Later on Apple will build their OS so integrated to Apple intelligence that you can’t turn it off, can’t use the OS without it and eventually force enterprise devices to use Apple intelligence or brick their managed devices.
My bet is after every update from now on. Configuring Siri startup prompt has 2 stops to dismiss, and I have to do it every single time I update the iOS. It’s quite annoying and gets old really fast.
For years every update turned on Bluetooth regardless of whether it was on in the first place. That recently stopped much to my delight. So now I have something else to remember to turn off every update.
I guess I should have stuck with Sonoma a little longer. Bummer.
Companies have computer management systems that control what software can be installed and what options can be enabled. It’s not a one by one process at all. They can setup overrides so it remains off by default or they can setup overrides to make it on by default for everyone.
Since this is being enabled automatically and is an opt-out feature now, is Apple Intelligence no longer in beta?
For anyone that's already on iOS/iPadOS 18.3 or macOS 15.3 - does the Apple Intelligence icon still have the 'BETA' label in Settings?
For anyone that's already on iOS/iPadOS 18.3 or macOS 15.3 - does the Apple Intelligence icon still have the 'BETA' label in Settings?
While yes, how far it can go is purely determined by apple, which has the power to NOT let enterprise computers opt out of Apple intelligence. The contention is whether said MDM profiles will give admins an option to disable Apple intelligence to all managed devices. There’s no way to know yet other than “time will tell”.
Did that make planet Earth tilt an extra 20 degrees?
If you turn it off, does it return to you any storage space taken up when it was turned on? Delete anything that was downloaded when it was turned on?
I wouldn’t mind default on as long as I can easily return to the exact state it was in when it was off.
I wouldn’t mind default on as long as I can easily return to the exact state it was in when it was off.
This is my big concern.
I’m holding off on iPad os updates until this is figured out. That would be really annoying if they don’t give us that storage back when we disable AI.
I think it eventually cleans up after itself. I turned it off one day to try something out with old Siri and forgot to turn it back on. When I did turn it back on later, it had to redownload everything again. People on Reddit have said it will delete after being off for a week, but I don't think I had mine off that long.
Straight from apple: 7 GB storage space.
How to get Apple Intelligence - Apple Support (CA)
Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you communicate, work, and express yourself. It combines generative models with your personal context to deliver intelligence that is most useful and relevant to you, while protecting your privacy.
Straight from apple: 7 GB storage space.
How to get Apple Intelligence - Apple Support (CA)
Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you communicate, work, and express yourself. It combines generative models with your personal context to deliver intelligence that is most useful and relevant to you, while protecting your privacy.support.apple.com
It says it requires 7 GB of storage. That doesn’t mean it actually uses it
Also even it did, pretty inconsequential amount in 2025
No conspiracy peddling here. These were just legit questions since I unfortunately haven't kept up with Apples implementation of LLM features so I do not know the details of their privacy stance other then "sure privacy is top priority". Agree I hope apple would not breach trust, but I just dont know what is their official stance on all this so I'm wondering if anyone here has any more insight into how serious they have taken it thusfar or maybe the jury is still out on this topic?
The amount of money within LLMs right now would certainly be tempting for apple which is why the question popsup in my mind
Im thinking about the recent Gravy analytics issue where 'anonymized' data (anonymized in the sense of advertising IDs, but that may not really be all that anon) was stolen, but really should never have been collected the way it was in the first place to be stolen in such a way
Until, like bluetooth, on the next release they enable it again.
Collecting and selling data has never been apple’s business model
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but they seem to be doing fine revenue wise
Either way, if you spend any time online doing anything everything about you has already been has been gobbled up by multiple llm trainees and your “anonymous” ad id has been bought and sold countless times over
Apples janky email sorting, grammar check and cartoon making apps are the least of your worries
I just updated to iPadOS 18.2.1 and it seemed like it was going to do that.
Says “set up now” with no option to skip, but when I tapped it and got back in, I went to settings and it was still disabled. I don’t want this to ever be turned on.
Says “set up now” with no option to skip, but when I tapped it and got back in, I went to settings and it was still disabled. I don’t want this to ever be turned on.