Apple adds ChatGPT to devices

Apple and OpenAI did not unveil a new 2026 partnership this week. The companies announced the ChatGPT tie-up on June 10, 2024, when Apple introduced Apple Intelligence and said ChatGPT would be available across iOS, iPadOS and macOS. (apple.com) Apple said at the time that Siri could hand some requests to ChatGPT, while systemwide Writing Tools would let users call on ChatGPT without switching to a separate app. (openai.com) OpenAI published a matching announcement the same day describing the integration inside Apple devices rather than as a standalone chatbot product. Apple’s current support pages show the feature remains part of Apple Intelligence. (support.apple.com) OpenAI’s help center also continues to document how ChatGPT works through Siri, Writing Tools and other Apple features, indicating the arrangement is an operating product rather than an unlaunched roadmap item. (apple.com) ### So what exactly did Apple put ChatGPT into? Apple said ChatGPT would appear in Siri and in Writing Tools on supported iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. In Apple’s description, Siri can ask ChatGPT for “more in-depth answers” on some prompts, including requests involving photos or documents, and Writing Tools can use ChatGPT to generate text or images from a user’s description. (openai.com) OpenAI said users would not need to jump between tools to access ChatGPT’s image and document-understanding features. The company said Apple users are asked before questions, documents or photos are sent to ChatGPT, and Siri then presents the answer directly. (support.apple.com) ### Did Apple make ChatGPT the default brain of the iPhone? Apple did not describe ChatGPT as the default model running Apple Intelligence. Apple’s June 2024 materials presented Apple Intelligence as Apple’s own system, with ChatGPT available as an external option when helpful and with user permission. Apple’s support language still frames ChatGPT as an extension users can enable. (support.apple.com) The iPhone support page says “if you choose to allow” Apple Intelligence to work with ChatGPT, Siri and Writing Tools can use OpenAI’s service, which leaves Apple in control of the interface and the handoff. (openai.com) ### What did the companies say about privacy and accounts? OpenAI said in its June 2024 announcement that requests sent through Siri and Writing Tools are not stored by OpenAI and that users’ IP addresses are obscured. Apple separately said users would be asked before anything is shared with ChatGPT. (apple.com) OpenAI’s current help pages say users can also connect a ChatGPT account to Apple’s integrations for additional features, and that existing OpenAI data preferences then apply. The company said some basic account information becomes available on the device to connect the account, including name, email address and profile image. (support.apple.com) ### Why does this matter beyond one feature? Apple’s June 2024 launch put ChatGPT inside the system layer of iPhone, iPad and Mac rather than leaving it only as a separate app. That gave OpenAI distribution through Apple’s built-in assistant and writing interface, while Apple kept the user-facing controls, permissions and device integration. (openai.com) Support documents from both companies show that structure has continued. Apple hosts the controls inside Apple Intelligence settings, and OpenAI explains how users can enable, disable or connect accounts through Apple’s integrations. (help.openai.com) ### Is there anything new to watch now? Reports published in May 2026 said the relationship has come under strain, with some outlets citing possible legal friction over the Siri integration, though those reports rely on secondary accounts rather than a new public filing from either company. Apple’s next major public checkpoint is its annual WWDC update cycle, where it has previously announced Apple Intelligence changes, including the June 9, 2025 expansion across more devices and developer tools. (apple.com) Until either company issues a new product roadmap or filing, the clearest public record remains the June 10, 2024 announcements and the current Apple and OpenAI support documentation. (support.apple.com) (apple.com) (techrepublic.com)