Apple Intelligence
Share
Apple Intelligence - Writing Tools and Smart Reply.
Ever stared at a half-written email wondering if it sounds right? Apple Intelligence can now help you proofread, rewrite and summarise text almost anywhere you can type on your Mac. It also drafts quick replies in Mail and lets you invent your own emoji. Here is how to use the best bits, and what you need to switch it on.
1. Check you have it and switch it on.
Apple Intelligence runs on Macs with Apple silicon (M1 or later) and a recent version of macOS. It is a free part of the system, but you have to turn it on yourself, and the first set-up downloads some language models, so allow a few minutes.
→ Open System Settings and choose Apple Intelligence & Siri, then switch Apple Intelligence on.
→ Not seeing the option? Check Apple menu > About This Mac for a chip name starting with M.
→ Software Update in System Settings > General will show whether a newer macOS is waiting.
→ Most of the processing happens on your Mac, so your drafts stay private by default.
2. Proofread and rewrite anywhere you type.
Writing Tools works in Mail, Notes, Pages, Messages and many third-party apps. Select some text and a small menu lets you tidy it up without copying and pasting into anything else. You can always compare the result with your original before you accept it.
→ Select your text, then Control-click and choose Writing Tools.
→ Pick Proofread for spelling and grammar, with each suggestion explained.
→ Try Rewrite, or choose Friendly, Professional or Concise to change the tone.
→ Use Summary or Key Points to boil a long passage down to the essentials.
3. Let Mail do some of the heavy lifting.
Mail uses Apple Intelligence to cut through a crowded inbox. Summaries appear under messages in your list, and Smart Reply suggests quick answers based on what the sender actually asked. Nothing is sent until you press send.
→ Open a message and click Reply to see Smart Reply suggestions.
→ Tap a suggestion, edit it to sound like you, then send.
→ Read the short summary under each message in your inbox before opening it.
→ Check names, dates and figures before you send. It is a helper, not a proofreader of facts.
4. Have a little fun with Genmoji.
Genmoji lets you describe an emoji and have your Mac create it. It is a small thing, but a good way to get comfortable with the new tools. Anything you create can be used in Messages and most other apps that accept emoji.
→ Open the Emoji & Symbols viewer with Control + Command + Space.
→ Choose the Genmoji option and type a short description, such as a cat in a party hat.
→ Mix in a person from your Photos library if you want a personalised version.
→ Image Playground, a separate app, makes simple illustrations in the same way.
• You need a Mac with Apple silicon and a recent macOS, and Apple Intelligence must be switched on in System Settings.
• Always read what it writes. Suggestions are a starting point, and the final wording is yours.
• Be careful with anything confidential. Check the app and settings you are using before you share sensitive text.
• Features and languages change with each macOS update, so look in System Settings if something is missing.
• If you are reading this through your employer's TechBenefits scheme and want a hand getting set up, our team is always happy to help.
Bought your Mac from Farpoint? You'll get a Mac tips email like this one each week. Got a question about your Mac, hit reply - we've been the Mac people in Bath for over 25 years.
Farpoint Developments Ltd. · farpoint.co.uk · 01225 460 678
