Apple's New AI Features Will Only Work on These MacBooks

You'll be able to run these AI features on an M1, but some of the most advanced features may require newer hardware.

Apple's New AI Features Will Only Work on These MacBooks

Daniel Oropeza

Daniel Oropeza Shopping Editor

Experience

Daniel is Lifehacker's Shopping Editor covering tech deals and reviewing TVs, headphones, speakers, and projectors. He earned his master’s in journalism from Columbia University and has reported for the Miami Herald. He lives in Atlanta.

Read Full Bio

June 9, 2026

Add as a preferred source on Google
Add as a preferred source on Google

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

macbooks in apple store

Credit: Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images

Table of Contents


WWDC 2026 was Apple's chance to show how it plans to use AI to improve existing Apple products. If you have the right Mac, you'll be able to try new Apple Intelligence features this fall, including Apple's brand new Siri AI assistant. Unfortunately, though, not every MacBook will get Apple's latest and greatest features. If you want to try them, you'll need one of these machines first.

These MacBooks will get Apple Intelligence

While all of the Macs below will get the new macOS 27 "Golden Gate," some advanced AI features will work better on the most powerful models, which will require M3 chips and 12GB+ RAM.

What do you think so far?

MacBook Air

MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

MacBook Air (M2, 2022)

MacBook Air (15-inch M2, 2023)

MacBook Air (M3, 2024)

MacBook Air (M4, 2025)

MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020)

MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1 Pro/Max, 2021)

MacBook Pro 16-inch (M1 Pro/Max, 2021)

All M2, M3, M4 MacBook Pro models

MacBook Neo

MacBook Neo (A18 Pro)

iMac

iMac 24-inch (M1, 2021)

All M3 and newer iMac models

Mac mini

Mac mini (M1, 2020)

All M2, M2 Pro, M4, and newer Mac mini models

Mac Studio

Mac Studio (M1 Max/Ultra, 2022)

All newer Mac Studio models

What's new with Apple Intelligence for Macs

MacOS 27 Golden Gate will bring updates across Spotlight, Safari, Photos, Shortcuts, and other apps. You will get a lot of the same upgrades from Siri AI that iPhones will get, like more conversational responses, context-aware follow-up questions, personalized assistance, cross-device conversation syncing, etc. The biggest upgrades on the MacOS will be coming from inside Spotlight, like asking questions about files, comparing documents, searching, and acting from one interface. There will also be Safari updates like AI tab management, page monitoring, AI-generated extensions, better integration with Passwords, and easier automations where you can describe what you want in plain English.

The Download Newsletter Never miss a tech story

Jake Peterson portrait Jake Peterson

Get the latest tech news, reviews, and advice from Jake and the team.

The Download NewsletterNever miss a tech story. Get the latest tech news, reviews, and advice from Jake and the team.