Is Apple Intelligence Safe for Client Data in 2026?

What Apple Intelligence Reads

Apple Intelligence can use the text of client communications to produce summaries or writing suggestions. The relevant features include email and message summaries, notification summaries and tools that rewrite selected text.

Apple’s feature guide lists summaries in Mail and Messages, along with Notes transcription summaries. Writing Tools can proofread or summarise text in supported apps. Users with Siri AI writing support can ask Siri to help with writing instead.

In a hypothetical brokerage example, an email containing a client’s employment details could appear as a shorter Mail preview. A note transcribing a client conversation could also be summarised. The summary is another representation of the communication, so read the original before relying on a figure or instruction.

A notification feature also processes the information presented in a notification. Turning off visible message previews for privacy and turning off AI summaries address different behaviours.

What Stays on the Device and What Goes to Apple

Apple Intelligence uses on-device models for many tasks and Private Cloud Compute for requests that need larger models. The ChatGPT extension has a separate data-handling policy.

On-Device Processing

An on-device task runs on the device without sending its content to a server for that task. Apple’s Apple Intelligence privacy notice gives notification prioritisation as an on-device example. The notice also explains that Apple Intelligence can use information across apps to provide relevant results.

That describes the processing location for a task. It doesn’t establish that every feature touching the same email runs locally.

Private Cloud Compute

Private Cloud Compute processes more demanding requests on Apple’s servers. Apple’s security explanation describes a system designed to prevent Apple or its staff from accessing the personal data in those requests. The privacy notice says request data is used to fulfil the task and isn’t retained by Private Cloud Compute afterwards.

A request processed this way still leaves the device. If your brokerage requires a particular document to stay on the device, cloud privacy protections don’t change that requirement.

You can inspect off-device activity through Apple Intelligence & PCC Report. On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Apple Intelligence & PCC Report, and select a report duration. On a Mac, use the matching section in System Settings.

The report can include Private Cloud Compute requests and supported extension requests. It isn’t a list of every way an app or cloud account can transfer client information.

The Optional ChatGPT Extension

The ChatGPT extension sends the chosen request and any attachments to OpenAI. Apple’s ChatGPT extension privacy notice says the extension is off by default. It describes sharing limited request information and a general location, while obscuring your IP address.

When you use the extension without an account, OpenAI must use the information only to fulfil the request. Apple says OpenAI mustn’t retain the request or response unless the law requires it, or use the information to train models.

When you sign in to ChatGPT, your account settings and OpenAI’s privacy policies apply. The no-account protections therefore don’t describe every signed-in use. For a broader review of that service, read the guide to ChatGPT privacy.

Turn Off Apple Intelligence

On version 27, review the separate controls for Siri and the communication features used for client work. Apple’s security release list lists iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2 and macOS Golden Gate 27.2. The procedures below follow Apple’s version 27 user guides.

iPhone

Use Apple’s iPhone feature controls to stop the relevant assistant and summary features.

1. Open Settings, then Siri. Scroll down and tap Turn Off Siri, then confirm.
2. Return to Settings, open Apps, then Messages. Turn off Summarize Messages.
3. Open Apps, then Mail. Turn off Summarize Message Previews and Personalize Smart Replies.
4. Open Notifications, then Summarize Notifications. Turn that setting off.
5. In Notifications, open Prioritize Notifications and turn it off if your policy excludes notification prioritisation.
6. Reopen the settings to confirm they remain off. Use a new non-confidential message to check that automatic summaries have stopped.

iPad

Apple’s iPad feature controls use the same paths for Siri, Messages, Mail and notifications. Apply the iPhone sequence separately on the iPad, then reopen each setting to confirm it saved. Check a new sample message on that device too.

Mac

Apple documents separate Mac feature controls.

1. Open System Settings, select Siri and click Turn Off Siri. Confirm the choice.
2. Open Messages, choose Messages, then Settings, and turn off Summarize Messages.
3. Open Mail, choose Mail, then Settings, then Viewing. Turn off Summarize Message Previews.
4. In Mail settings, open Composing and turn off Personalize Smart Replies.
5. Open System Settings, then Notifications, then Summarize Notifications. Turn it off.
6. Reopen the settings and check a new non-confidential message. The disabled features must remain off and stop generating automatic summaries.

Brokerage-Wide Restrictions

The steps above address Siri and client-communication summaries. Writing Tools and other app features also need attention when your brokerage requires wider restrictions.

On supervised work devices, your device administrator can apply Apple’s managed intelligence settings. Apple documents controls for Writing Tools and app-specific intelligence in Mail and Notes, alongside separate controls for external intelligence services and Siri.

Give the administrator the list of features your policy excludes and the devices used for client work. Confirm the restrictions on a sample device before relying on them across the brokerage.

If a switch is unavailable or returns to its earlier state, identify the operating-system version and any management profile. Use the instructions for that version or have the device administrator resolve the enforced setting.

Turn Off the ChatGPT Extension

Turn off the ChatGPT extension itself to stop requests going to ChatGPT while retaining permitted Apple features. Disabling a confirmation prompt has the opposite effect: it can allow requests to be sent without asking each time.

iPhone and iPad

Apple’s iPhone ChatGPT instructions distinguish Siri AI from the other Siri interface.

1. Open Settings and select Siri.
2. If you use Siri AI, open Extensions, select ChatGPT and turn off Use Extension.
3. In the other interface, select ChatGPT and turn off Use ChatGPT.
4. Reopen the ChatGPT settings and confirm the extension remains off.

Apple gives the same sequence in its iPad ChatGPT instructions. On older software that labels the settings Apple Intelligence & Siri, the extension privacy notice gives that path to ChatGPT and Use ChatGPT.

Mac

Follow Apple’s Mac ChatGPT instructions.

1. Open System Settings and select Siri.
2. For Siri AI, select Extensions, then ChatGPT, and turn off Use Extension.
3. Otherwise, select ChatGPT and turn off Use ChatGPT.
4. Reopen the setting to confirm it saved.

Use a non-confidential request to confirm Siri doesn’t return an answer through the disabled ChatGPT extension. Keep the other Apple features your brokerage permits enabled, and apply the same extension setting on every device used for client work.