Apple Intelligence is the AI system built into recent iPhone and Mac models. It runs many requests on-device, and when a request needs more power it uses Private Cloud Compute, a server design Apple publishes for independent inspection that keeps no data once the request is done.
Apple Intelligence
apple.com/apple-intelligence
Our take
Private Cloud Compute is the genuinely interesting part: the servers run a locked-down OS that retains nothing once the answer is sent, and Apple publishes the build for researchers to verify, a stronger architecture than any mainstream cloud assistant offers. The catch is that it runs only on Apple silicon, it is closed beyond the parts Apple chooses to publish, and the most capable answers can still hand off to a third-party model. Good for Apple users who want everyday AI with less exposure. It is not a substitute for a model you run yourself.
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Apple Intelligence alternatives
Lumo Proton's hosted AI assistant with zero-access encryption of saved chats and a strict no-logs policy.
Duck.ai DuckDuckGo's private AI chat that lets you talk to multiple models with no account and no training on your prompts.
Euria Infomaniak's Swiss-hosted AI assistant that pledges no training on user data and operates under GDPR and Swiss data law.