Apple Launches Security Updates with a Surprising Twist
This past Monday, Apple rolled out updates for iOS 18.3.1, iPadOS 18.3.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.3.1 which primarily included crucial security enhancements and various bug fixes; however, they fell short of introducing noteworthy new features or improvements in usability. A notable discovery by Jeff Johnson of Underpass App Company raised eyebrows: despite users previously disabling the feature, these updates automatically activated Apple Intelligence.
Unexpected Activation of Apple Intelligence
Johnson chronicled his experience in a blog post after applying the macOS 15.3.1 update on his MacBook Pro that had Apple Intelligence turned off beforehand. To his surprise, post-installation brought up the Setup Assistant with an unexpected prompt dedicated to Apple Intelligence—without any option to disable or enable it; users were only afforded a “Continue” button to proceed through the setup process.
A further investigation revealed that when he checked System Settings later, he found that Apple Intelligence had indeed been activated against his prior preferences. Security researcher Will Dormann reported similar experiences across two different iPhone models under identical conditions.
The Default Enablement Dilemma
The rollout of the earlier versions—iOS and iPadOS 18.3 dated January 27 (alongside macOS Sequoia 15)—has resulted in a default configuration where Apple Intelligence is switched on automatically during installation for all users who previously had it disabled prior to this update cycle. Johnson criticized this move as “inconsiderate and irritating,” raising questions about Apple’s motives behind such an involuntary switch towards beta functionalities.
Apple’s Ontological Approach Towards User Engagement
The expectation from Apple for its user community to participate willingly in what essentially amounts to one extensive beta testing phase can be viewed as somewhat presumptive at best—and likely frustrating for many end-users feeling coerced into using features not yet fine-tuned or fully operational. Nevertheless, it appears that encouraging greater engagement with its system improvements aligns with Apple’s broader strategy moving forward.
Navigating Your Preferences Post-Update
If you wish to verify whether your device has activated Apple Intelligence following any recent OS updates—or if you’re looking to disable it—you can easily do so by accessing Settings on your iPhone or iPad (or System Settings on your Mac). Navigate through: Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri, where you’ll find the toggle at the top indicating if it’s activated (it will display green when enabled). You simply have to click once or tap it off should you decide against using this feature moving forward.
