Apple’s “Learn From This App” Setting

I don’t trust artificial intelligence. Specifically, I don’t trust the corporations, venture capitalists, and tech bros who are pushing AI on consumers whether they want it or not, all the while blatantly ignoring environmental converts, privacy, and content owners’ rights in the process.

This includes Apple. While the company has long claimed to have their users’ privacy at heart, Apple has since released their own take on AI, Apple Intelligence. Well, they’re trying to release it, at least, as technical issues have plagued the service since its original release back in October of 2024, leading to only some services rolling out.

Back in 2022, iMore reported that Apple rolled out a new “feature” intended to help Siri. This function, titled “Learn From This App”, is in the settings of every app a user installs in their iPhone or iPad. What’s more, it is turned on by default, with no option for the user to consent.

This is a blatant privacy and security breach of trust by Apple, especially now that we have Apple Intelligence, not to mention an incredible inconvenience as the users can only turn off the setting at the individual app level. That’s right, you have to go into the settings for EACH AND EVERY APP and turn this specific setting off.

Here’s an example of the setting, which I screen shot from my credit union’s app settings. That’s correct, this setting was turned on by default for my BANKING APP. Needless to say, I’m turning it off for this and all my other apps, even if Apple publishes information on what specifically this setting and, by extension, Apple accesses.

To turn the setting off, open your Settings app and navigate to Apps – (APP NAME) – Apple Intelligence & Siri, and toggle the “Learn From This App” setting off. Again, you’ll need to do this for each app you’ve installed on your device.

Thanks, Apple!

UPDATE: Thanks to Mastodon user Sumocat for pointing out setting was introduced in 2022 and the iMore article with the details.