Which Macs Will And Will Not Get New Apple Intelligence Features

During the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple finally launched its version of artificial intelligence dubbed Apple Intelligence. The new system infuses Apple devices with machine learning goodness and AI power. Many users are wondering which Mac will be compatible with AI.

On its dedicated Apple Intelligence page, Apple has listed every Mac that will work with its new AI, as well as the chip will need under the hood. The list includes:

• MacBook Air: M1 and later
• MacBook Pro: M1 and later
• iMac: M1 and later
• Mac Mini: M1 and later
• Mac Studio: M1 Max and later
• Mac Pro: M2 Ultra

Also Read: Which Devices Will Be Getting Apple Intelligence?

Apple M-Series Chip Are Essential For AI

Simply put, users will need an Apple silicon chip (an M-series chip) is essential. That said, users won’t need the latest chips and even a Mac released four years ago will be compatible.

Depending on what Mac users have, they might not require an upgrade at all. Getting Apple Intelligence for free is great news, and it’s something that Microsoft’s AI-infused Copilot+ PCs can’t hope to offer.

If you are someone who’s not sure if your Mac is listed above, there’s a simple way to find what chip it uses. Users just need to select the Apple logo in the top-left corner of their screen, then choose About this Mac. 

It will open a window that shows the Mac name and type, its launch year, the chip it leverages, including other details. Users need to check that against the list above to see if their Mac will work with Apple Intelligence.

Also Read: WWDC 2024: Apple Announces iOS 18, iPadOS 18, And WatchOS 11

Will Apple INtelligence Work With Intel Macs?

Sadly, Apple Intelligence will not support Intel-based Macs. That said, the most recent Intel chips Apple used in Macs are from 2019 and don’t have enough processing power to handle Apple Intelligence workloads. It boils down to the Neural Processor used in Apple’s M-series chips, which is used for AI workloads.

Since Apple has designed its AI system to perform several tasks on their device, which means their Mac needs to have a chip powerful enough to handle a lot of very complex machine learning workloads. The older Intel chips found in pre-Apple silicon Macs just aren’t ready, as they do not have a dedicated Neural Processor Unit.

Apple Intelligence is a system that brings AI to a large number of apps and processors within the company’s operating systems. Some of its best features are subtle, while others are more significant and exciting.