How to completely remove Apple Intelligence (from a MacBook Pro)

doris50 wrote:

I totally agree. The Apple Intelligence offer was also "placed" automatically in my system settings by Apple. I had already asked on this forum if anyone knew how to get rid of it. I had no intention of accessing it; however, it installed on the next system update. I am still upset about that and I, too, want it off my computer.

IdrisSeabright explained it very well. You don't own MacOS. Apple Intelligence is an integral part of the operating system. As with any operating sytem, whether it comes from Apple or Microsoft of Google, you can't choose only the parts you want. You get what is baked into the system. Don't use it if you don't want to use it. But remove it, you cannot.

mikehASC wrote:

I would have thought that from the tenor of my post you could deduce that I have never enabled Apple Intelligence. When I found out about its presence (through its disk space usage), System Settings showed that it was disabled, so I am confident it has never been enabled.

I apply every macOS update as soon as it is available. My current release is Sequoia 15.2, to which I updated on December 11, 2024. To my recollection, none of the Sequoia updates gave me an option of whether to install Apple Intelligence.

From reading other online material, I suspect that most of the disk space is taken up by the data for the AI models. Since this is just data, I see absolutely no reason why these files could not be deleted.

As for your speculations about what I have already been able to do with Apple Intelligence, you are quite wrong; I have never used any of these features, particularly Siri, and have no interest in doing so

They can't be deleted because they are build in the OS, which in your case is MacOS. The simple answer is you don't have download the full Apple Intelligence suite of options if you don't want to use it. But delete it completely off your Mac, is a no. What I don't understand is the 9GB increase you refer to. I have an M1 MacBook Pro, with all the features of Apple Intelligence installed and fully functional in my MBP and memory barely moved after downloading the update and loading Apple Intelligence.

We don't own the OS on any system we own. Apple owns MacOS. And we don't have the ability, nor right to uninstall things which are built into the OS. That's how it works with EVERY technology company. It sounds like you have more than enough available space on your Mac. I'm not sure what a few GB would do for you anyway?

Since Apple Intelligence can't be deleted from the computer, go to: System Settings > scroll down on left to: Apple Intelligence & Siri > click either Apple Intelligence or Siri or both to turn OFF.

Also, if you cannot erase your browsing history in Safari because both places for deleting are grayed out after updating (must do this on your computer and also on your iPhone because they share the information) - go to: System Settings > scroll down on the left to: Screen Time > Content & Privacy (shut it OFF)

doris50 wrote:

Since Apple Intelligence can't be deleted from the computer, go to: System Settings > scroll down on left to: Apple Intelligence & Siri > click either Apple Intelligence or Siri or both to turn OFF.

But I don't want to turn it off.... Perhaps you meant to reply to someone else?

Also, if you cannot erase your browsing history in Safari because both places for deleting are grayed out after updating (must do this on your computer and also on your iPhone because they share the information) - go to: System Settings > scroll down on the left to: Screen Time > Content & Privacy (shut it OFF)

Nor do I need to do this.

mikehASC wrote:

I'm curious to know whether you speak purely on your own behalf, or whether you are speaking for Apple as a corporation.

I am, of course, quite aware that if I wish to use this rather nice piece of hardware I have to use macOS, and that to use macOS I have have to agree to the terms of the EULA without any negotiation of those terms. What I don't understand is why it is Apple's interest to antagonize a customer unnecessarily. I have other laptops on which I run Linux, which has other faults but does not force me to do anything.

I am not overly concerned about the loss of storage (which is not really significant, though it was noticeable enough to alert me to what had happened), but I do take pains in general to keep the crud on my disk to a minimum. To paraphrase an old quip, a GB here and a GB there and pretty soon we're talking real storage.

I cannot speak for Apple. I am a user, just like you are a user. And this is a user to user only forum, which Apple doesn't actively participate (except to moderate posts to the terms of use).

I don't think Apple is trying to antagonize you, but if you feel they are, you should likely share that with them here --> Feedback - macOS - Apple

doris50 wrote:

Today, Jan. 15, 2025, I received a systems pop-up telling me it is time to experience the new apple personal intelligence system. I am not interested. I want to continue to rely on my own intelligence. How do I get rid of this repeatedly nagging me to update like my iPhone does about its updates.

Check to see if you have notifications for the Tips app enabled.

I will contact Apple and hope they can help. Thank you. On another note, I have contacted apple twice about how to keep the monumental amount of unsolicited pornographic emails I get daily from coming into my mail. They really didn't have any fix for it. The amount of wasted time spent to "block" them got ridiculous so I just funnel all of them to my junk folder and delete the whole batch every day or two. Actually "block" doesn't seem to work any better in apple mail than "unsubscribe" does by going to the website - it actually seems to have a reverse effect. I have to watch though, because sometimes a bill is sent to junk instead of to my inbox and I end up being charged a late fee by missing the notice. One thing I really miss in mail is the ability to to "bounce" unsolicited/unwanted mail back to the sender - if we could still do that maybe we wouldn't get 5-10 or more of the same harrasing ads, etc. in a week.

doris50 wrote:

One thing I really miss in mail is the ability to to "bounce" unsolicited/unwanted mail back to the sender - if we could still do that maybe we wouldn't get 5-10 or more of the same harrasing ads, etc. in a week.

Bouncing spam emails is generally not helpful because it can actually harm your sender reputation as it signals to email service providers that you might be a spammer, even if you're not, due to the high likelihood of invalid addresses associated with spam campaigns. And it didn't stop spam.

The reason you get more spam now is not because the useless bounce feature was removed. It's because there are more spammers sending more spam.

Never, ever reply to junk mail. It just confirms there's someone at the other end and you get moved to live lists and will get more junk. Don't ever click on unsubscribe links in junk mail because you've no idea what sort of website you'll end up at.

Who is your mail provider? Most mail services have multiple levels of junk mail filters and if yours does then try upping it a notch.

You can also create rules in Mac Mail to get rid of junk. For example I've been getting a ton of mail telling me my McAfee subscription has lapsed or that they've found a virus. I've never used McAfee so I've created a rule to delete all mails with McAfee in the subject.

You can prevent bills and genuine mails from people and organizations you know from going to your junk box by making sure their address is in Contacts and you've ticked the appropriate box in Mail/Settings/Junk Mail. You can also create rules and/or smart mailboxes to move or display emails if they are from, say family, friends, etc. Just put your family in a list in contacts and you can create a rule or smart mailbox based on that list.

Inaccurate statement. My iPad software was just updated and the unrequested, unwanted Apple Intelligence was installed TURNED ON. I had to turn it on. I hate when Apple ASSUMES you want activated or installed every little thing they come up with. I don’t appreciate it and I resent it.

Not_a_fan9999 wrote:

Inaccurate statement. My iPad software was just updated and the unrequested, unwanted Apple Intelligence was installed TURNED ON. I had to turn it on. I hate when Apple ASSUMES you want activated or installed every little thing they come up with. I don’t appreciate it and I resent it.

You are likely responding to a post which was written before iOS/iPadOS 18.3 was released and was likely at that time quite accurate. With iOS 18.3 Apple Intelligence was turned on for devices, which had not turned it on previously. And yes, as you've learned, you can just as easily turn it off if you don't want to use.

We have to accept that Apple Intelligence is baked into iOS and will be enabled by default going forward. But that doesn't mean anyone HAS to use it as it is easy to turn off if someone wants. Apple owns iOS, not any of us. We just have a license to use the software. It is that way with every company you use an operating system from.