ChatGPT in iOS 18.2 beta: This is possible – and this is not (yet) possible

Surprisingly for some observers, Apple also implemented – – its long-announced integration of ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence with the first developer beta of iOS 18.2 this week. It has now been possible to carry out initial experiments with the chatbot, which is intended to complement Siri. It appears that Apple has managed the implementation well overall, but the implementation still has some rough edges. In addition, some users may feel fundamentally uncomfortable that a "foreign" AI system is to run on their iPhone, iPad or Mac in the future – and (very) close to the operating system.

ChatGPT is an opt-in

At least with regard to the latter question, anxious users need to be reassured: ChatGPT doesn't just "turn on" by default and no data is sent to OpenAI just by turning on your iPhone with Apple Intelligence (at least that's what Apple promises). Instead, it is a separate switch in the system settings that must be explicitly activated – along with the extensive information dialog –. "If the iPhone works with ChatGPT, it can do more for you," it says.

The three main functions are Siri integration –, which is supposed to be more in-depth and also reveal information about photos or documents if you wish –, the generation of texts in Apple's in-house writing tools to create (better) texts and, if desired, the use of your own ChatGPT account to synchronize requests and use better (because paid) models. According to Apple, however, the latter is completely optional. The requests themselves should not be traceable back to the user, with Apple acting as a kind of proxy in between, with no direct access to the OpenAI servers. However, as requests to the chatbot often allow conclusions to be drawn about the user, it should be borne in mind that data ends up outside Apple. It initially remained unclear whether the data coming from iPhone & Co. can be used for training – This is (unfortunately) the normal case for many ChatGPT accounts outside of a business license.

OpenAI generates images via Siri

As mentioned, ChatGPT is addressed via Siri – this can be done by voice or "Text to Siri". If you want, you can switch off Siri's requests that something should go in the direction of ChatGPT. If you want to use ChatGPT a lot, you can do this, but you are putting yourself more in the hands of OpenAI. It is even possible to send all requests to ChatGPT by default by simply saying "Ask ChatGPT". The image generator DALL-E 2 is also integrated. This means you can now use Siri to create AI images – Interestingly, even before Apple itself has released its Image Playground including Genmoji and image wall function, as many beta users are currently still on hold. ChatGPT and DALL-E 2 also generate photorealistic images, which Apple does not provide.

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In the Writing Tools, ChatGPT now allows you to create completely new texts. Previously, Apple's own tools could only rewrite existing content, "translate" it into other formats and check for errors. Now there is a "Compose" button that uses ChatGPT. In practice, it still takes a little longer for ChatGPT to respond. Apple has apparently not created a "fast lane" to the OpenAI servers as part of the developer beta. Incidentally, Apple is not planning to integrate ChatGPT (even) more deeply into the operating system – New Siri functions such as the use of the user context (e.g. emails, address book, appointments) will be reserved for Apple technology and will also largely run locally on the user's own device when they are released in the coming months.

(bsc)