At the same time, in order to protect user privacy, Apple uses a private computing module (PCC) to use its own chip for end-to-end encryption and permanently delete all data after processing. Users can also view and export Apple Intelligence reports in privacy settings to see which data AI requests to process.
Apple’s AI models include the Apple Foundation Model (AFM) mobile model and the AFM cloud model. AI functions can use both on-device and online language models. To ensure user privacy, Apple developed its own chip and called it the “Private Compute Module” (PCC) to process requests online, fully encrypted, and even Apple cannot access the data. After processing, all data will be permanently deleted.
Apple said that iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1 will provide users with an “Apple Intelligence Report” where users can see whether their requests are processed through the device or Apple’s PCC cloud encryption.
Because the report may contain sensitive data, users need to verify their identity through facial recognition or fingerprint recognition to view it. Apple generates this report by default and keeps it on the device for 15 minutes. Users can change the settings to extend the retention time to 7 days or turn it off completely.
Detailed Privacy Report of Apple Intelligence
Users can generate and export detailed reports about their interactions with Apple Intelligence in their privacy settings.
The report includes information on how user requests were handled, including whether they were processed on the device or using Apple’s Private Compute Module (PCC).
Private Computing Module (PCC) of Apple Intelligence
Apple’s PCC uses its own chip for end-to-end encryption to ensure data security.
Once the data is processed, all data will be permanently deleted, ensuring that no one (including Apple) can access it.
Secure Access of Apple Intelligence
Because reports may contain sensitive data, access to reports requires authentication via Face ID or Touch ID.
By default, reports are only stored on the device for 15 minutes, and users can choose to store them for 7 days or turn this feature off completely.
For the first time ever, Private Cloud Compute extends the industry-leading security and privacy of Apple devices into the cloud, making sure that personal user data sent to PCC isn’t accessible to anyone other than the user — not even to Apple. Built with custom Apple silicon and a hardened operating system designed for privacy, we believe PCC is the most advanced security architecture ever deployed for cloud AI compute at scale.
