What to Know

• Apple Intelligence can summarize notifications, text messages, web pages, emails, and more.
• It extracts the most important bits to save you time.The full text is still available if you want it.
• This functionality is available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but only on certain models that are updated to the right OS.

Apple Intelligence's summary feature digests the key detailsinyour messages and other text and then displays them front and center so you get the most important information instantly.Thisarticle explains how to use these powerful features and why they're worth enabling; instructions apply to devices running iOS 18.1 and later, iPadOS 18.1 and up, and macOS 15.1 and newer that are capable of running Apple Intelligence.

How to Use Apple Intelligence Summaries

Supported Apple devices can summarize notifications, emails, text messages, calls, web pages, and more.Below are all the different ways you can use these Apple Intelligence summary features.

1. For an Apple Intelligence email summary, open an email in the Mail app and selectSummarizeat the very top.The most important information from the message or thread will appear above the email.

   This also works automatically for your whole inbox-a summary is displayed in the preview before you open a message.

   

2. Apple Intelligence notification summaries provide key details about your app alerts so you can quickly decide whether to open them.

   This Summarize Previewstoggle controls this option. Get there on an iPhone or iPad viaSettings>Notifications>Summarize Notifications.

   

   On a Mac, go toSystem Settings>Notifications>Summarize Notifications.

   

3. To get digests of texts, turn onSummarize Messages in Settings >Apps>Messageson iPhone/iPad).

   On a Mac, open Messages, and then go toMessages>Settingsand turn it on under theGeneraltab. This setting is active by default. Summaries appear next to conversations automatically.

   

4. To trigger the Apple Intelligence summary feature in Safari, open the Reader either by selecting the icon to the left of the URL or pressingShift+Command+Ron your keyboard.

   The Summary will appear on the right side of the screen, next to the article.

   

5. Writing Tools-another Apple Intelligence feature-can summarize web pages and more. To use it, select the text and then right-click (or click while holdingControl) on the highlighted text. ChooseWriting Tools, and then clickSummaryto get a text summary, or clickKey Pointsfor a bulleted summary.

   

6. Apple Intelligence can summarize audio through the Notes app. This feature works for audio recorded as a note and for calls you record on your iPhone. Just tap the recording, and then chooseSummary.

   Transcripts of recorded calls are stored in theCall Recordingsfolder.

   

How to Get Apple Intelligence Summary Features

Apple Intelligence is restricted to certain models of iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Your device must be included in the list below to be eligible to summarize content using Apple Intelligence.

• iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and later.
• Any iPad with A17 Pro or M1 and later
• Any Mac with M1 or later

The device must also be updated to at least iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or macOS Sequoia 15.1. Additionally, Apple Intelligence is available only on Siri-supported devices that have the device language set to US English.

What Are Apple Intelligence Summaries?

Apple's generative AI features are designed to save you time and make it easier to focus on what matters. Whether you're writing, catching up on emails, or managing a bunch of notifications, the Apple Intelligence summary tools help you cut through the clutter and get straight to the point.

On your Lock Screen, notification summaries make it easier to stay on top of things. You can skim key details from stacked notifications without feeling overwhelmed. This feature is especially useful for group chats that won't stop buzzing.

In the Mail app, summaries pop up right in your inbox so you can just glance at the important details without opening the message. For long threads, there's an option to generate a focused summary that highlights the important bits. This is a simple way to save time when reading emails, especially if you have lots to go through.

Use Writing Tools for a quick summary. You can highlight any text and pick a format that works for you, like a paragraph, bullet points, a table, or a list. This can make digesting the text quicker and easier.

Writing Tools has the added benefit of fine-tuning text wherever you type it, be it in Mail, Messages, Notes, Pages, and even third-party apps. Not only can you summarize, but also rewrite and proofread your writing.

Apple Intelligence also supports audio summaries. With the Notes and Phone app, you can record, transcribe, and summarize conversations and other audio files.

These examples highlight a major advantage: saving time. Sifting through an entire article or catching up on a mound of emails and notifications after stepping away can feel overwhelming. Apple Intelligence summaries do the hard work for you so that you can decide if something needs your immediate attention.