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Apple Intelligence on Mac is hybrid, not purely on-device: many tasks run locally, while requests that need more computing power may be sent to Apple’s Private Cloud Compute (PCC). For clipboard work, however, Apple documents Writing Tools as an action you invoke on selected text—not as automatic monitoring of everything you copy.
Does Apple Intelligence use the cloud on Mac?
It can. Apple says many Apple Intelligence models run entirely on your Mac. When a request needs more computational capacity, Apple Intelligence may route relevant request data to PCC, Apple’s server-based system. A cloud request requires an internet connection; Apple’s Foundation Models documentation lists on-device use as available offline.
Apple describes PCC as processing request data only to fulfill the request, then removing it without storing it or making it accessible to Apple. Those are Apple’s privacy claims, not an independent guarantee. Apple also says it may collect limited request metadata—including approximate request and response size, the feature used, and processing time—without the request content or result, and that this metadata is not linked to an Apple Account. Apple’s Mac privacy guide and its Apple Intelligence privacy explanation describe the architecture and data practices.
What the published model figures mean
For developers using Apple’s Foundation Models framework, Apple lists a 4K context size for on-device use and 32K for PCC. It also lists on-device use as unlimited and PCC use as subject to a daily limit. These figures describe that framework, not every Apple Intelligence feature, and they are not a benchmark against other cloud AI services. Apple does not establish a universal daily quota in the cited materials.
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| Apple Foundation Models framework | On-device | Private Cloud Compute |
|---|---|---|
| Published context size | 4K | 32K |
| Works offline | Yes | No |
| Usage listed by Apple | Unlimited | Subject to a daily limit |
Source: Apple Developer documentation on server-side intelligence with PCC, accessed in 2026. Framework details may change.
Can you use Apple Intelligence on copied text?
Yes, when you select text in a supported writing context and invoke Writing Tools. That is different from copying text and having Apple Intelligence automatically read or process the clipboard. Apple’s reviewed documentation does not describe default clipboard monitoring or an AI action that runs on every copied item.
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For selected text, Apple documents proofreading, rewriting, changing tone, summarizing, identifying key points, and organizing text into a list or table. You can also provide a custom description of how you want the text changed. Available actions can vary by app. In read-only text, such as a PDF, rewritten content appears in a dialog that you can copy.
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- Select the text in an app or website where you can use Writing Tools.
- Control-click the selection and choose Show Writing Tools. Some apps provide a Writing Tools button instead.
- Choose an action, such as Proofread, Rewrite, a tone option, a summary, key points, or an organized list or table. The exact choices depend on the app and context.
- Review the result before using it. If the source text is read-only, copy the result from the Writing Tools dialog.
Apple says Writing Tools are available in most places people write, including third-party apps and websites, but that does not mean every app exposes every action in the same way. See Apple’s Writing Tools guide for Mac.
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Can a Shortcut process clipboard text?
Shortcuts offers a configurable route for text workflows. Apple documents Apple Intelligence actions that can summarize text or call models to produce responses used by a shortcut, and says users can create shortcuts with natural-language descriptions. This supports experimentation with a workflow you set up; it does not establish one universal, ready-made clipboard trigger or mean Apple Intelligence watches the clipboard by default.
Server-side Shortcuts features may have daily usage limits. Apple’s documentation does not establish a single recipe that works across every Mac, app, language, or release. For the available Mac features, consult Apple Intelligence on Mac and Apple’s privacy explanation.
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How to check whether a request went to PCC
- Open System Settings.
- Choose Privacy & Security.
- Open Apple Intelligence Report.
- Select a report window: Last 15 Minutes or Last 7 Days.
- Export the activity report to inspect PCC requests.
An empty report does not prove that a feature never uses PCC; it can mean there was no PCC request during the selected window. Apple documents the report in its Mac privacy guide.
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Apple’s June 8, 2026 announcement lists Macs with M1 or later among supported devices. Eligibility and feature access also depend on the macOS release, supported language, region, and the individual feature. Apple’s September 2026 announcement says certain server-based features have usage limits and that expanded access may become available for a fee in the future; it does not establish a stable price or universal quota. Check Apple’s current availability information for your country and the specific feature before relying on it.
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Sources: Apple Newsroom, June 8, 2026 and Apple Newsroom, September 2026.
How this differs from Universal Clipboard
Universal Clipboard is Apple’s continuity feature for copying on one Apple device and pasting on another. It is not an AI processing feature and should not be confused with a clipboard history or automatic AI analysis. See Apple’s Universal Clipboard guide.
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