Use Your AirPods to Chat With ChatGPT
Last month, select Apple users got their first taste of Apple Intelligence , with features like voice memo transcription, photo cleanup, email dubbing, and an updated, more natural Siri. However, with the release of iOS 18.2, the way you interact with your digital assistant, and therefore your AirPods, could change dramatically thanks to the new ChatGPT integration with Siri. And if you install the iOS 18.2 beta on your iPhone, you’ll get this integration right away.
ChatGPT via Siri
According to 9to5Mac, the process is quite simple: When you call Siri after installing iOS 18.2, you can respond by saying “Ask ChatGPT.” Instead of asking Siri a question, you now ask ChatGPT. The AI chatbot will then complete the task.
After the initial question, Siri will listen to any subsequent questions and can continue the conversation without repeating commands or engaging in additional dialogue as in a normal conversation with a friend. All subsequent requests also go through ChatGPT, so there is no need to say “Ask ChatGPT” every time – only at the beginning of the current Siri session.
When iOS 18.2 officially releases (rumored to be early December), ChatGPT will be disabled by default. You’ll need to enable it by turning it on in the Apple Intelligence menu in Settings. You don’t need a ChatGPT account to access these features, but if you have a ChatGPT Plus account , you can connect it to Apple Intelligence in Settings to access more advanced chatbot features. These include enhanced GPT-4o features , the ability to upload additional files and send more messages, and access to an enhanced voice mode .
To connect your ChatGPT Plus account, go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > ChatGPT . There you can enter your account information or upgrade to ChatGPT Plus, which currently costs $19.99 per month.
How ChatGPT integration is a game changer for AirPods
ChatGPT integration works no matter how you communicate with Siri, but it can be especially useful when using AirPods hands-free. With the update, you’ll be able to ask questions and get more detailed answers through Siri wherever you use your headphones. This includes all the usual AI use cases: for example, you could ask ChatGPT a question while jogging, or request a summary of important documents on the way to an important meeting. Of course, this all comes with AI limitations , so you should always test anything you ask in ChatGPT before taking it as fact. But if you’re already a fan of ChatGPT, having direct access to the bot from your AirPods is very nice.
Additionally, if you pay for ChatGPT Plus, you will be able to chat with ChatGPT in natural conversation through advanced voice mode. In this mode, ChatGPT can recognize your emotions and tone of voice and stops talking when you start to say something, simulating a more natural and realistic conversation. This is probably the closest we’ve gotten to 2013’s Her .
If you want to try out Siri’s new features right now, you can download the iOS 18.2 beta. Find out more about downloading here , keeping in mind that there are risks involved in using unfinished software.