If you were hoping to use Apple Intelligence to proofread a text message in WhatsApp or spruce up a caption on Instagram or Facebook ...you're out of luck. That's because Meta is blocking access to Apple Intelligence across all of its iPhone apps, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.
The shake-up, first spotted by Brazilian tech blog Sorcererhat Tech, means iPhone owners can't access Writing Tools, which includes Apple Intelligence features to proofread, rewrite, adjust the tone, or summarise text into shorter paragraphs or bullet points. This functionality is blocked entirely in the Meta-owned apps used by billions.
Apple Intelligence will offer writing tips, suggest replies to emails and other correspondence, and summarise lengthy notes and webpages in the blink of an eye... with the majority processed on-device APPLE PRESS OFFICE Writing Tools are usually accessed by long-pressing in a text field or highlighting the text you're looking to adjust. This functionality also lets you summon ChatGPT to rephrase, add new information, write a poem, or other creative flair to your text. You can access all of these features in iMessage, the built-in text message platform on Apple devices.
Meta, which is run by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, has not publicly explained its decision to remove support for Apple Intelligence within its popular apps. According to documentation for app developers penned by Apple, the teams behind iOS and iPadOS apps must manually enable these features. It's possible that Meta has decided to delay enabling these features for now... or simply hasn't gotten around to that item on its To Do list.
According to some Apple users posting its support forums, Meta did enable Apple Intelligence functionality when the AI-fuelled features started to roll out worldwide with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 late last year. However, support was pulled in the following weeks.
GB News has been unable to verify this timeline of events.
Meta AI is powered by Llama, the latest generation of large language model (LLM) from the Californian company, which is run by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg
META PRESS OFFICEIndustry observers speculate that Meta wants to use the absence of Apple Inelligence features to push you towards using its own Meta AI over Apple's competing service. Meta AI is integrated into Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, offering similar text modification and image generation capabilities.
Unlike Apple Intelligence, Meta AI cannot be disabled in these apps, a point of controversy among users.
Earlier this month, WhatsApp users expressed frustration over Meta's decision to force its AI onto billions of users via a mandatory update. The update added a glowing indigo-violet circle in WhatsApp that cannot be switched off. Some users branded the feature "pointless and irritating" and "bug-ridden rubbish" on social media.
@gbnews There's no way to switch off Meta AI... #AI #Meta #MetaAI #Tech #GBNews
Despite the backlash, Meta defended its implementation, insisting it's "entirely optional" despite users being unable to remove it from their screens.
Apple and Meta have a history of tension that extends beyond this latest dispute.
You may recall that Meta has frequently clashed with Apple over App Store guidelines and restrictions. The relationship became particularly strained in 2020 when Facebook claimed that iOS 14's app-privacy settings would "cripple" its ability to serve ads.
The Californian companies have fundamentally different business models and approaches to privacy, with Apple positioning itself as a champion of user privacy. Meta, meanwhile, relies heavily on user data for its advertising business.
Last year, The Wall Street Journal revealed that Apple and Meta had discussed a potential partnership that would have brought Llama — Meta's AI large language model — to Apple Intelligence. However, Apple reportedly decided to scrap the deal because it didn't agree with Meta's privacy policies.
Instead, Apple chose to partner with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its AI offerings.
If you're using Apple Intelligence, you can now ask ChatGPT to come up with something if Siri's response doesn't satisfy you. By default, whenever you use ChatGPT integration, only your request and any attachments are beamed to OpenAI — your IP address is obscured. OpenAI does not receive any information tied to your Apple Account and is prohibited from storing your requests or using them to train future AI models. Google's Gemini may be the next AI model to be integrated with Apple's platform.
Mark Zuckerberg is the Chief Executive of Meta, which owns some of the most popular social platforms on the planet, including Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp
REUTERSApple Intelligence is only available on newer devices, including iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, all iPhone 16 models, iPad and Mac computers powered by the M1 system-on-a-chip or newer.
The feature requires iOS 18.1 or later, which was released last October.
It's unclear whether Meta will change its approach in the future and flip the switch to enable Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools across its selection of popular mobile apps. For now, if you want to use these on-device AI tools within Meta's apps, you'll need to write your text elsewhere and then paste it in.
It's easier to use Meta AI to access similar features, which is likely exactly what the company is hoping for.
