Apple is preparing to bring artificial intelligence deeper into the enterprise world with a new set of tools that give businesses more control over how their employees interact with AI. Starting with the upcoming software updates arriving in September, the company is introducing new configuration options, including support for an enterprise version of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Demand for ChatGPT in the business sector is already well established. OpenAI says its enterprise service has more than five million business customers who use AI agents connected to their own internal data. Apple’s move shows it is not only aware of this momentum but also wants to give IT departments more flexible ways to manage it.
What makes Apple’s approach notable is that its ChatGPT integration isn’t locked into a single vendor. According to Apple’s support documentation, administrators will be able to restrict or permit any “external” AI provider, not just OpenAI. That decision leaves Apple free to strike future partnerships with other enterprise-grade AI platforms without having to alter the underlying framework.
This strategy fits with Apple’s broader rollout of AI features aimed at everyday users — tools like writing suggestions and visual intelligence — while still giving IT leaders full authority over what their employees can or cannot access. Apple continues to lean heavily on its Private Cloud Compute architecture for security, but it also recognizes that many companies are cautious about where data is processed. That’s why businesses can choose whether AI requests run in the cloud or directly on devices, depending on their internal policies.
Even companies without their own enterprise agreement with OpenAI will be able to decide whether their employees can send requests to ChatGPT’s cloud service. Because Apple Intelligence doesn’t route requests through ChatGPT automatically — it’s either processed by Apple or by OpenAI, not both — disabling ChatGPT access is straightforward if a company doesn’t want to allow it.
AI isn’t the only focus of Apple’s enterprise updates this fall. The company is also preparing several new tools for large organizations to simplify device management. For example, a new API for Apple Business Manager will allow IT departments to integrate its functions into third-party systems like MDM platforms, inventory software, and help desk services. Device migration, a common headache during mergers and acquisitions, will be easier as well thanks to new device management options.
Another notable change is an upgrade to Apple’s Return to Service feature, which quickly wipes and reassigns company devices. Soon IT teams will have the option to leave all apps installed during the reset, saving both time and bandwidth. This feature is also being extended to Vision Pro for the first time.
On shared Macs, Apple is rolling out an authenticated Guest Mode where employees can log in using credentials from their organization’s identity provider. Once the session ends, all personal data is erased, while apps remain untouched. Businesses will also be able to add NFC readers to Macs, allowing employees to log in simply by tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch.
All of these enterprise-focused improvements, from AI integration to device management, are set to launch in September as part of Apple’s broader software updates across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other devices.
