Meta has made a significant move that limits the availability of Apple’s AI-powered tools for iPhone users on its platforms. Meta has blocked the integration of Apple Intelligence features, such as Writing Tools, Genmoji, and other smart capabilities, within its apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Threads. This means that iPhone users will no longer have access to these Apple Intelligence features while using Meta’s widely used social platforms.
Impact on iPhone Users in India
For iPhone users in India, this is particularly concerning, as it limits the functionality of Apple Intelligence on some of the most popular apps. Apple recently introduced local language support for its Intelligence tools in India, aiming to make the AI features more accessible. However, this new limitation means that Indian iPhone users will no longer benefit from these tools on Meta apps.
While Meta claims to have disabled Apple Intelligence within its apps, a hands-on test by our team showed mixed results. The Writing Tools were indeed inaccessible, but Apple’s Genmoji feature, which generates custom emojis, was still available for a short period. That changed when Meta’s Instagram update removed the iOS keyboard stickers in stories, thus disabling Genmoji functionality for iPhone users as well.
Why Did Meta Make This Decision?
Industry analysts suggest two possible reasons behind Meta’s decision to disable Apple Intelligence features. First, Meta has its own AI assistant built into its apps, and allowing Apple’s AI features could steer users away from Meta’s ecosystem. Second, there are concerns about data privacy—how Apple might use the data from interactions on Meta’s apps to improve its AI models.
Interestingly, reports suggest that Apple initially approached Meta for integration with its Llama AI model. However, the collaboration never materialized, with some reports citing Apple’s strict privacy policies as a potential deal-breaker. This eventually led Apple to partner with OpenAI’s ChatGPT for its AI integrations instead.
Apple Intelligence’s iOS 18.1 Launch
Apple launched Apple Intelligence with iOS 18.1 last October, bringing a suite of smart features like writing assistance, summarization, and proofreading tools to first-party and third-party apps. The introduction of regional language support made it particularly popular among Indian iPhone users. However, Meta’s decision to block these features on its platforms has left iPhone users in a bit of a bind.
Looking Ahead for Iphone users
It remains to be seen whether Meta will reverse its stance in future updates. Until then, iPhone users will likely rely on Meta’s own AI capabilities within its social apps, while having to access Apple Intelligence features only in apps outside of Meta’s ecosystem. This ongoing rivalry between Meta and Apple could continue to shape the AI landscape on mobile devices in the future.
