In October 2024, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence with the release of iOS 18.1, bringing advanced AI capabilities such as Writing Tools and Genmoji to enhance user experience across various applications. These features are designed to assist users in composing, editing, and proofreading text, as well as creating personalized emojis through artificial intelligence.
However, recent developments indicate that Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has chosen to disable Apple Intelligence functionalities within its suite of iOS applications. Users have reported the absence of Writing Tools when interacting with text fields in Meta’s apps, and the inability to create or share Genmoji. Additionally, features like adding keyboard stickers and Memoji to Instagram Stories, previously available, have been removed.
Meta has not provided an official explanation for this decision. Industry analysts speculate that the company aims to promote its proprietary AI solutions, such as Meta AI, which offers similar text generation and image creation capabilities. By limiting the integration of Apple Intelligence, Meta may be seeking to encourage users to engage more deeply with its own AI technologies.
This move is set against a backdrop of ongoing tensions between Apple and Meta. In December 2024, Apple criticized Meta for making numerous interoperability requests under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple expressed concerns that granting these requests could compromise user privacy and security, highlighting Meta’s history of privacy violations and substantial fines in Europe. Meta, in response, accused Apple of using privacy as a pretext to justify anti-competitive behavior.
The decision to disable Apple Intelligence features in Meta’s iOS apps underscores the competitive dynamics between the two tech giants. For users, this means the unavailability of certain AI-driven functionalities within popular applications, potentially impacting their overall experience. As the landscape of digital services continues to evolve, the interplay between platform providers and app developers remains a critical area of focus, with user privacy and control at the forefront of the discourse.
