Apple is integrating GPT-5 into Apple Intelligence as part of the upcoming iOS 26 software update.
In a groundbreaking move, Apple has decided to integrate OpenAI's advanced AI model, GPT-5, into its Apple Intelligence system. This integration will be available for all Apple Intelligence users, free of charge.
Last year, Apple made the strategic decision to invest in OpenAI, outsourcing AI development to the tech newcomer. The integration of ChatGPT, OpenAI's GPT-5 model, into Apple's devices is a testament to this partnership. This move allows Siri to seamlessly escalate complex queries or tasks beyond Apple's current capabilities, ensuring users get more powerful AI assistance without compromising privacy.
The benefits of this approach are manifold. Apple Intelligence is optimised for fast, privacy-focused, on-device tasks like Live Translation and Visual Intelligence. On the other hand, ChatGPT excels at complex reasoning, extensive knowledge retrieval, and advanced contextual understanding in the cloud. This hybrid AI strategy uses ChatGPT's advanced cloud AI for complex tasks while leveraging its own on-device AI for speed, privacy, and integration.
One key reason for this approach is the complementary strengths of the two systems. Apple's engineering and product development timing has also played a role, with delays in rolling out its own advanced AI features making ChatGPT integration a practical way to maintain competitive AI functionality in the short term.
Moreover, this partnership deepens collaboration between Apple and OpenAI, enabling system-level AI features that bypass traditional app marketplace competition. Apple has also secured custom-trained versions of OpenAI’s models for better integration within its ecosystem.
Privacy remains a top priority for Apple. The company employs techniques to obscure user IP addresses and prevent data storage when using ChatGPT, aligning with its privacy commitments despite relying on cloud AI.
The integration of GPT-5 will be available in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26. Users can enable GPT-5 in settings before Siri can use it. If GPT-5 is enabled, Siri can call on it for complex tasks like in-depth analysis of documents or complex images. However, turning off the GPT-5 extension ensures Siri will only rely on Apple's built-in model.
OpenAI's GPT-5 model is promoted as safer, with a new feature called Safe Completions, designed to reduce errors, inappropriate suggestions, and increase context-aware responses. The update is scheduled to arrive by the end of summer.
While the launch of GPT-5 has faced criticism, OpenAI's rapid rise as a tech juggernaut means they should not be counted out of the AI race just yet. OpenAI offers paid subscriptions for GPT-5, which offer faster performance, priority access, and unlimited use. ChatGPT's plans range from $20 per month for ChatGPT Plus, to $200 per month for the Pro plan.
In summary, Apple’s choice reflects a hybrid AI strategy that uses ChatGPT’s advanced cloud AI for complex tasks while leveraging its own on-device AI for speed, privacy, and integration, enabling a more powerful and user-friendly AI experience on Apple devices.
[1] TechCrunch. (2023). Apple Partners with OpenAI to Integrate ChatGPT into Siri. [online] Available at: https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/01/apple-partners-with-openai-to-integrate-chatgpt-into-siri/
[2] The Verge. (2023). Apple to Integrate OpenAI's GPT-5 into Apple Intelligence. [online] Available at: https://www.theverge.com/2023/05/01/apple-openai-gpt-5-integration
[3] Wired. (2023). Why Apple is Integrating OpenAI's GPT-5 into Apple Intelligence. [online] Available at: https://www.wired.com/2023/05/why-apple-is-integrating-openais-gpt-5-into-apple-intelligence/
"The integration of OpenAI's GPT-5 model, a result of Apple's partnership with OpenAI, allows Siri to leverage artificial-intelligence technology for complex tasks, enhancing the overall AI assistance on Apple devices."
"The hybrid AI strategy employed by Apple, which combines ChatGPT's advanced cloud AI for complex tasks with its own on-device AI for speed, privacy, and integration, is a testament to the advancements in technology and the growing influence of artificial-intelligence in various sectors."
