Apple released updates to its iPhone, iPad and Mac software on Wednesday that include long-awaited ChatGPT integration with Siri.

The ChatGPT integration is triggered when users ask Siri complicated questions. When Siri is asked whether Apple’s software is better suited for ChatGPT, the user is asked for permission to access the OpenAI service. Apple says it has built privacy features into the feature and that OpenAI does not store requests. The integration uses OpenAI’s GPT-4o model.

Apple users do not need an OpenAI account to use the ChatGPT integration, but users can pay for updated versions of ChatGPT through Apple. Users can also access ChatGPT through some text menus.

The release of iOS 18.2 is a crucial milestone for Apple, which relies on Apple Intelligence to guide the marketing campaign for the iPhone 16 series. Apple Intelligence is the company’s suite of artificial intelligence capabilities. Apple first announced the ChatGPT integration in June.

Apple released the first part of Apple Intelligence in October. These features included writing tools that can proofread or rewrite text, a new design for Siri that lights up the entire phone screen, and notification summaries.

The company says it will release another update to Apple Intelligence next year that will include significant improvements to Siri, including the ability to perform actions within apps.

Many investors believe adding features through Apple Intelligence will boost iPhone sales, spur an upgrade cycle and potentially cement Apple as a leader in consumer-focused AI.

The integration is also a major victory for OpenAI as it brings its flagship product to millions of iPhone users. Neither Apple nor OpenAI have disclosed financial terms of the agreement.

Users need an iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, or any iPhone 16 model to install and use Apple Intelligence, although the ChatGPT integration primarily uses cloud servers. iPhone owners can enable software updates in the General section of the Settings app.

After updating to the latest Apple software, users will be prompted to set up Apple Intelligence. Their phones need to download large files, including Apple’s AI models, that the service needs to operate.

Wednesday’s updates also include Apple’s image-making app called Playground, which can create images based on people or prompts, and Image Wand, a feature that lets users remove objects or blemishes from photos.

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