Don’t want Apple Intelligence on your new iPhone? Here’s how to disable it

Apple’s latest iOS update automatically includes Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI tools that requires 7GB of storage space and can be disabled through specific settings.

What is Apple Intelligence: Apple’s new AI integration uses on-device processing for enhanced privacy while offering features like text rewriting, image generation, and email prioritization in core applications.

• The system processes data locally on the device rather than using external servers or cloud storage
• Core functionality includes AI-powered tools for Mail, Messages, and Photos applications
• The suite requires 7GB of local storage space, which remains occupied even when features are disabled

Update implementation: The iOS 18.2 update introduces Apple Intelligence as an opt-in feature during device setup.

• Users receive a prompt to activate Apple Intelligence during the initial setup process
• Once enabled, AI models are downloaded directly to the device
• Complete removal requires a factory reset and declining the setup prompt

Disabling process: Users can disable Apple Intelligence through several methods depending on their preferences.

• Navigate to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri to toggle individual features
• Access Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions for specific AI tool management
• Disable notification summaries through Settings > Notifications > Summarize Notifications
• Complete deactivation available through Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri
• Storage space can only be reclaimed through a full device reset

Future considerations: While Apple plans to expand its AI capabilities in upcoming updates, the company maintains Apple Intelligence as an optional feature that users can control according to their preferences and privacy concerns.

• The current implementation allows users to maintain device functionality without AI features
• Privacy-conscious users can opt out while preserving core iPhone capabilities
• Storage requirements may influence user decisions about enabling these features

Looking ahead: The significant storage requirement and automatic inclusion of Apple Intelligence in iOS updates signals a shifting landscape in mobile AI implementation, though user choice remains paramount in determining the technology’s adoption rate.