Does Apple Intelligence work on an Intel Mac?

No. Apple lists a Mac with M1 or later. Grux OS also needs Apple silicon.

Can I use Grux OS and Apple Intelligence together?

Yes. Apple Intelligence works inside Apple's apps, and Grux OS is a separate app that acts across them on a model you choose.

Is there an alternative to Apple Intelligence on a Mac?

Yes: Grux OS is a free, open source (MIT) Mac agent that runs on a local model you choose or on your own key, alongside Apple Intelligence or instead of it. Apple Intelligence is built into macOS on Macs with M1 or later: Writing Tools, summaries and Smart Reply in Mail, image tools, and Siri AI in beta. It needs the device and Siri language set to the same supported language and up to 8 GB of storage, and Apple says its server-side features are subject to daily usage limits, with expanded access to come for a fee. Grux OS does a different job. It is an agent that acts on your mail, calendar, files, meetings and a shell it can undo, on macOS 14 or later, with a model you pick: a local one through Ollama keeps everything on the Mac. Apple's features live inside Apple's apps; Grux works across them. Plenty of people will want both.

Grux OS 3.0.0 · last checked 2026-09-30 · generated from the shipping release

Side by side

	Apple Intelligence	Grux OS
What it is	AI built into macOS and Apple's apps	An open source agent app
Macs	M1 or later	Apple silicon, macOS 14 or later
Model	Apple's models, on device and, for some features, server side	A local Ollama model, or your own key
Limits	Daily usage limits on server-side features	None from Grux; a hosted model has its provider's limits
Works in	Apple's apps: Writing Tools, Mail, Photos, Siri	Mail, calendar, files, meetings and a shell it can undo
Source	Closed, part of macOS	Open source, MIT

Apple's details are from How to get Apple Intelligence, the Mac User Guide and Apple Intelligence in Mail, read on 3 October 2026.

Where Apple Intelligence is the better choice

Writing help, summaries and replies inside Apple's own apps, with nothing to install.
Image generation and photo editing.
Siri, on a Mac and across your other Apple devices.

Where Grux OS fits better

You want to choose the model, including a local one with no usage limit from anyone.
You want an agent that acts across apps: triage mail, read the calendar, run shell commands you can undo.
You want to read and change the source: Grux writes work orders for your own coding agent.

Where to check this

Claim	Source
Apple Intelligence needs a Mac with M1 or later, matching device and Siri language, and up to 8 GB of storage	Apple Support, How to get Apple Intelligence
Server-side Apple Intelligence features have daily usage limits; expanded access for a fee in future	Apple, Mac User Guide
Mail gets Priority Messages, Smart Reply and summaries	Apple, Apple Intelligence in Mail
Grux runs on an Anthropic API key, or Ollama running locally, on macOS 14 or later	Grux README, Requirements
Grux has no account and no server, and nothing is proxied	Grux README, Privacy posture

Questions

Does Apple Intelligence work on an Intel Mac?: No. Apple lists a Mac with M1 or later. Grux OS also needs Apple silicon.
Is Apple Intelligence free?: It is included with macOS, but Apple says features that rely on its server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, with expanded access to be offered for a fee. Grux OS is $0, and with a local model there is no usage limit.
Can I use Grux OS and Apple Intelligence together?: Yes. Apple Intelligence works inside Apple's apps, and Grux OS is a separate app that acts across them on a model you choose.

Download Grux 3.0.0 Read the source

Free, MIT licensed. macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon. 23.7 MB, signed and notarized by Apple. No account, no server, no subscription.