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Meta Discontinues Apple Intelligence Writing Tools Across Key Apps
Meta, the tech giant, has reportedly discontinued the use of Apple Intelligence writing assistance features within several of its prominent applications. Users have noted the disappearance of these tools, previously accessible on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads. The removal affects the ability to leverage Apple’s AI for text refinement within these popular social media and messaging services.
Apple Intelligence Features Quietly Removed
The alteration, which seems to have commenced as early as December 2024, has caused perplexity among iPhone users who may have become accustomed to employing the Apple-provided functionality within Meta’s suite of apps. As of now, neither Meta nor Apple have issued public statements or responded to inquiries regarding this apparent change.
User Observations and Feature Absence
Further investigation into this development reveals specific user experiences. Upon attempting to utilize text selection and rewriting options within the Instagram application, users are now presented only with a “Write with AI” option. This alternative, instead of activating Apple Intelligence, now directs users towards a Meta AI interface.
Notably, the ability to modify text using AI appears to be entirely absent from both Threads and WhatsApp. Similarly, within the Facebook application, the expected Apple Intelligence integration is no longer present. Users instead encounter a “Help me write” tool, which, like Instagram, redirects to Meta’s proprietary AI system.
Apple Intelligence Still Accessible on Competing Platforms
In contrast to Meta’s apps, it has been confirmed that Apple Intelligence writing tools remain functional on other social media and messaging platforms. These include Signal, Bluesky, and X, formerly known as Twitter, indicating the issue is specific to Meta’s implementation.
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Technical Underpinnings of the Change
Initial indications of this change surfaced through a report from a Brazilian technology blog. Subsequent scrutiny of Apple Developer documentation and Apple Support Forums by AppleInsider suggests that app developers for iOS and iPadOS are required to manually enable the Apple Intelligence feature for it to be active within their applications.
Strategic Shift Towards Proprietary AI
In an environment saturated with artificial intelligence advancements and intense competition among major technology corporations to establish their AI ecosystems, Meta’s choice to eliminate Apple Intelligence writing tools may be construed as a strategic maneuver. The company likely aims to prioritize and promote the utilization of its own in-house developed artificial intelligence solutions over those offered by Apple.
Understanding Apple Intelligence Writing Tools
Apple Intelligence’s collection of writing tools represents a component of Apple’s broader suite of AI-driven functionalities. Currently, Apple Intelligence is exclusively available on newer Apple devices, specifically the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, the 2024 iPad Mini, and selected Mac computers.
To access these text enhancement features, users are instructed to highlight the desired text for modification. If supported by the application in use, a “writing tools” menu should then appear as a floating option above the selected text.
These writing tools offer functionalities such as grammar checking and text rewriting. Users can also apply preset tones to rewritten text, including options for “Friendly,” “Concise,” or “Professional” phrasing.