OpenAI's 12 Days of 'Shipmas': Day 5 - ChatGPT for Apple, Your Customers Just Got Smarter

Ellis Crosby

AI Expert & Incremento AI Lead

December 12, 2024

chatgpt openai news announcements apple intelligence

OpenAI's Day 5 of Shipmas brings ChatGPT to Apple devices through deep integration with Apple Intelligence. While this might not revolutionize your business operations, it could change how your team works and how your customers interact with AI. Let's break down what actually matters here.

What's The Deal?

ChatGPT is now baked into iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2. No more app-switching or browser tabs - it's right there in Siri and Apple's native apps. You don't even need a ChatGPT account to use it.

Why Business Owners Should Care

1. Your Team's Daily Work

- Everyone with an Apple device just got an AI assistant that's actually useful
- Writing and editing just got faster (it's built into Apple's writing tools)
- Visual analysis of documents, diagrams, and presentations is now one tap away
- No more context switching between apps to use AI

2. Your Customers Just Got Smarter

- They can now fact-check your claims instantly through Siri
- Product research becomes easier with visual analysis
- Customer support queries might get more sophisticated
- They'll expect faster, more informed responses

The Privacy Angle

Apple's doing their usual privacy-first approach:

- No account required
- IP addresses are hidden
- Users control what data is shared
- Optional account connection for power users

What This Won't Do For Your Business

Let's be clear about what this isn't:

- It's not a replacement for proper business AI tools
- It won't integrate with your business systems
- It's not going to handle sensitive company data
- It's not available on older devices

The Real Impact

This integration matters for two reasons:

1. AI is becoming truly ambient - it's just there when you need it
2. Your customers and employees will start using AI more naturally, whether you plan for it or not

What Business Owners Should Do

1. Be aware that customers might come armed with better questions
2. Consider how this could streamline your team's daily tasks
3. Update your customer service strategies for more informed customers
4. Think about privacy implications if employees use this for work

Looking Ahead

This isn't just about ChatGPT or Apple - it's about AI becoming as common as spell-check. While this particular integration might not revolutionize your business processes, it's going to change how people interact with technology at work and in their daily lives.

The Bottom Line

Is this a game-changer for businesses? Not directly. But it's going to make AI a more natural part of how everyone works and shops. Smart business owners will start thinking about what that means for their operations, their team, and their customers.

Stay tuned for Day 6's coverage tomorrow!