Apple Is Adding ChatGPT to iPhones This Week. Here’s How It Works.

ChatGPT will take over questions that Siri can’t answer.

By Sherin Shibu edited by Melissa Malamut Dec 11, 2024

Key Takeaways

  • Apple released iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 on Wednesday.
  • The new updates bring ChatGPT to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
  • Apple users can now ask Siri questions that go straight to ChatGPT for an answer.

On Wednesday, Apple released new updates for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that bring a long-awaited feature to Apple products: direct access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Now, if a user asks Siri a complicated question that the voice assistant can’t answer, Siri will ask if it can send the question to ChatGPT. If the user says yes, Siri will bring ChatGPT’s response straight to the iPhone screen and say, “Here’s an answer from ChatGPT.” The user doesn’t have to navigate to ChatGPT themselves; their questions are answered directly on the iPhone.

Apple users can access the feature without making a ChatGPT account. Apple says that OpenAI won’t store their questions or use their data for training purposes.

ChatGPT will also have functions outside of Siri. The new Compose feature allows users to generate images with the chatbot that are tailored to their writing. For example, they could ask ChatGPT to “add a magical impressionist image” to a bedtime story.

Related: ‘A New Chapter’: Apple CEO Tim Cook Says This AI Is ‘Profound’ and ‘Will Reinvent’ the iPhone, iPad, and Mac

The new updates are called iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2.

Compose with ChatGPT. Credit: Apple

This is the first time Apple has integrated a third-party AI chatbot into the iPhone as part of Apple Intelligence. There are rumors that Apple will partner with additional companies to add other AI chatbots to its products in the future, including Google for its Gemini chatbot.

Related: Apple Intelligence Is Finally Here. See What’s Changing on Your iPhone and How to Download the New AI Features.

Apple first announced ChatGPT integration in June as part of a collection of AI features called Apple Intelligence.

In late October, Apple rolled out its first Apple Intelligence update with iOS 18.1. The earlier update introduced writing help from AI that could rewrite text to take on a “friendly,” “professional,” or “concise” tone as well as a Siri that could understand more context.

What’s the difference between Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT?

Apple Intelligence refers to the group of AI features that Apple has brought to its products, including writing tools and a redesigned Siri. Only the iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are eligible for Apple Intelligence updates.

ChatGPT is the AI chatbot from OpenAI that has over 300 million weekly users.

One connecting aspect between ChatGPT and Apple Intelligence is that with iOS 18.2, Apple Intelligence now taps into ChatGPT for Siri and writing help.

Related: Apple Intelligence ‘Changed My Life,’ Says CEO Tim Cook. Here’s How the New iPhone AI Saves Him Time.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple released iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 on Wednesday.
  • The new updates bring ChatGPT to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
  • Apple users can now ask Siri questions that go straight to ChatGPT for an answer.

On Wednesday, Apple released new updates for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that bring a long-awaited feature to Apple products: direct access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Now, if a user asks Siri a complicated question that the voice assistant can’t answer, Siri will ask if it can send the question to ChatGPT. If the user says yes, Siri will bring ChatGPT’s response straight to the iPhone screen and say, “Here’s an answer from ChatGPT.” The user doesn’t have to navigate to ChatGPT themselves; their questions are answered directly on the iPhone.

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Sherin Shibu

News Reporter at Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur Staff
Sherin Shibu is a business news reporter at Entrepreneur.com. She previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. Her areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. She is a Columbia University graduate.

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