Apple has rolled out a beta version of an “Intelligent Assistant” feature for its Pages, Keynote, and Numbers apps—but it’s exclusive to those with a subscription to Apple Creator Studio. Released on Thursday, the update brings new AI-powered tools aimed at improving productivity and creativity within the iWork suite. The update also introduces key compatibility changes and support enhancements.
What’s New: AI Tools in iWork Apps
The new assistant delivers multiple capabilities tailored to each app. In Pages, users can begin first drafts, adjust tone, organize content, and even generate images or shapes using natural language. It also allows the incorporation of current information on topics directly into documents.
In Keynote, the assistant helps with storytelling through slide templates, adds animations, refines slide layouts, and can produce presenter notes. It too allows image and shape generation and fetching up-to-date data to weave into presentations.
For Numbers, the assistant simplifies complex tasks—helping build formulas, suggesting charts, generating tables, and visualizing data. All three apps offer guidance on getting started or exploring features, along with suggestions to expand what’s possible. Natural language prompts are central to generating content or formatting.
Eligibility, Language, and Technical Requirements
These features are gated behind the Apple Creator Studio subscription, which bundles Apple’s creative software offerings. To access the Intelligent Assistant, devices must be running iOS 27 or later and have their language set to U.S. English. The assistant is a separate entity from Siri—focused specifically on document creation and editing workflows.
Other Related Updates
A new open interchange format for Keynote files—.keyx—was introduced. Because it’s truly open, it should make it easier for apps other than Keynote to read and edit those files.
Apple also noted support for the new iPhone Duo, with compatibility rolling out starting October 23. However, shortly after releasing the updated apps to the iOS and Mac app stores, Apple removed all three from sale—unclear whether this was intentional or a technical issue.
This rollout shows Apple doubling down on AI tools for content creators. Making the Intelligent Assistant Creator Studio–exclusive suggests the company is leaning into subscription revenue, while open formats like .keyx hint at efforts to ease cross-platform workflows. What to watch: how users balance the benefit of AI-powered drafts, visuals, and data tools against cost, and whether Apple makes these features available more broadly over time.
