In a quiet yet significant move, Meta has removed the integration of Apple Intelligence writing tools from its major apps on iPhone, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Threads. This means iPhone users can no longer access Apple's native AI-powered text assistance — a feature that was initially rolled out to help users rewrite, proofread, and tone-adjust their messages directly within supported apps.

The change, first spotted by Brazilian tech blog Sorcererhat and later confirmed by CNET, has left many users puzzled, especially those who had become accustomed to the seamless Apple Intelligence experience on Meta apps. What was once a straightforward tap to enhance your message now either redirects users to Meta’s own AI tools or offers no AI support at all.

CNET senior writer Abrar Al-Heeti confirmed the experience firsthand. While using Instagram, she noted that highlighting text now presents a “Write with AI” option that leads to Meta AI, not Apple’s tools. On WhatsApp and Threads, she found no AI rewriting options at all. Similarly, Facebook only shows a Meta-powered “Help me write” feature. In contrast, Apple Intelligence remains available on other platforms like Signal, Bluesky, and X (formerly Twitter), suggesting this is not a system-wide rollback from Apple, but rather a selective decision by Meta.

This shift appears to have started as early as December 2024 but was never officially communicated by Meta or Apple. Neither company has responded to requests for comment, but the timing aligns with the intensifying competition between tech giants in the AI space.

Apple Intelligence, Apple’s AI suite introduced in mid-2024, includes a range of features designed to work on-device, prioritizing user privacy. One of its standout offerings is a set of intelligent writing tools that allow users to easily rewrite messages with tone presets like Friendly, Concise, or Professional, all without sending data to the cloud. These tools are currently supported only on select devices, including the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 lineup, newer iPads, and Macs with M-series chips.

For iPhone users, accessing Apple Intelligence features required simply highlighting text — after which a floating menu with writing tools would appear. Now, for users of Meta apps, that menu is gone, replaced by Meta’s own AI or nothing at all.

Industry analysts say the removal is not entirely unexpected. As AI becomes the next big battleground, tech giants are increasingly investing in their proprietary ecosystems. Meta, which has developed its own large language models and integrated Meta AI across its apps, likely wants to consolidate user engagement within its own platform rather than allow Apple's AI to play a supporting role inside its apps.

“This is more than just a UI tweak — it’s a statement of intent,” said one tech analyst. “Meta and Apple are both doubling down on their AI investments. Letting a competitor’s AI tools live inside your app is a strategic risk.”

The move could also have implications for user experience. Apple’s on-device AI is known for its privacy-centric approach and seamless system-level integration, whereas Meta’s cloud-powered AI is focused more on conversational and generative tasks. Users who preferred Apple’s simpler, more private writing assistance may now find themselves missing the convenience and polish it brought.

At a time when companies like OpenAI, Google, and Meta are racing to build the most powerful and widely used AI tools, this latest development underscores how fragmented the AI experience might become across platforms. With each major player building their own walled garden of tools and services, the days of cross-platform AI harmony may already be behind us.

For now, Apple Intelligence continues to thrive on apps that choose to support it — but its absence on Meta’s platforms highlights the growing AI arms race, where cooperation gives way to competition, and users are left navigating the ever-shifting lines between convenience, privacy, and innovation.