A guide to Writing Tools: How to use Apple Intelligence’s star feature on your iPhone, iPad and Mac

Enable Apple Intelligence to use Writing Tools

To enable Apple Intelligence, one needs to set the language to English (US). (Express Photo)

To use Writing Tools, you need two things: (a) a compatible iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and (b) Apple Intelligence. Not all Apple devices support Apple Intelligence, so you’ll need a device designed to handle Apple’s version of generative AI features (check the complete list to see if your device is compatible). Once you have an Apple Intelligence-supported device, you can download iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or macOS Sequoia 15.1. However, Apple Intelligence won’t be automatically activated, even if you have a compatible device—you’ll need to join the Apple Intelligence waitlist. Once your request is approved, only then will Apple Intelligence be enabled on your device.

Currently, Apple is rolling out Apple Intelligence features exclusively in the US, so other markets, including India, may have to wait at least 3–4 months for an official rollout. But if you’re keen to try Apple Intelligence features on your device now, you can opt for the early developer build to get a hands-on experience with what Apple Intelligence has to offer.

Writing Tools are AI-first solution

First, Writing Tools are a set of AI capabilities, not just a single feature, hence the name “Writing Tools.” They allow you to rewrite, summarise, or proofread text, all within the device you use every day, like your iPhone or Mac. Of course, AI does the heavy lifting, and the similarities with ChatGPT are hard to ignore. However, Writing Tools function primarily because they are embedded into the operating system and work seamlessly with Apple-made apps like Notes. Surprisingly, they also work with Gmail and LinkedIn, allowing you to rewrite an email or a post for the platform, but they don’t work with WhatsApp.

How to use Apple Intelligence Writing Tools

Apple Intelligence can summarize, correct, and rewrite text. (Express Photo)

The best way to see Apple’s Writing Tools in action is to write a few sentences in the Notes app—it could be a random thought, a grocery list, or anything else. The next step is to highlight the text and select “Writing Tools.” A pop-up menu will offer you two options: proofread and rewrite For example, as demonstrated in the screenshots below, AI can rewrite the text. Writing Tools go one step further by allowing you to choose a tone—Friendly, Professional, or Concise—to make the text more readable. A professional tone might work well for writing an email for a sales pitch, while a friendly tone could be more suitable for casual messaging. Writing Tools, powered by Apple Intelligence, can also generate a summary of selected text. Imagine summarising the terms and conditions of a life insurance plan or condensing a news article. Another interesting feature of Writing Tools is that you can select a text (say, a report on the latest sales data) and ask Apple Intelligence to highlight key points.

Early take on Writing Tools

Apple Intelligence’s Writing Tools may not be much different from using ChatGPT or Google-powered AI solutions. However, the difference lies in their integration within apps, allowing you to access them from the same menu as copy and paste when tapping on text, instead of opening another app. Privacy is another major advantage with Apple Intelligence.