Google now lets admins restrict Apple Intelligence Writing Tools on iOS

Google is introducing a new administrative control designed to give organizations more oversight over how AI interacts with their corporate data on mobile devices. This latest update specifically targets Apple’s “Writing Tools”—a feature of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1 and later—allowing Google Workspace admins to disable these tools within Google apps on iOS and iPadOS. By providing a dedicated toggle in the Google Admin console, Google is addressing the need for additional data protection and risk mitigation for managed devices in the enterprise and education sectors.

Enhancing data protection and security posture

Apple’s Writing Tools offer users the ability to proofread, rewrite, or summarize text across various applications. While these features can enhance productivity, they also present potential challenges for organizations with strict data loss prevention (DLP) policies. This new administrative setting, officially called “Allow Writing Tools for work data,” is intended to enhance an organization’s security posture by providing granular control over how sensitive data is handled on managed iPhones and iPads. By turning this feature off, admins can ensure that the “Writing Tools” option does not appear when a user selects text within participating Workspace apps, thereby mitigating potential conflicts with established security protocols.

Broad support across the Workspace ecosystem

The reach of this new control is quite extensive, covering the primary productivity tools used by most organizations. The setting applies to Workspace apps on iOS and iPadOS platforms including Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and Chat.

It is also versatile in its implementation, applying to devices under both basic and advanced mobile management. This ensures that regardless of the specific management tier an organization utilizes, the ability to protect corporate data from unauthorized AI processing remains a consistent option.

Admin configuration and roll-out details

For administrators looking to implement this change, the setting is located within the Google Admin console. It is important to note that the feature is enabled by default, meaning admins who wish to restrict Apple Intelligence Writing Tools must manually navigate to the console and disable the “Allow Writing Tools for work data” toggle.

The rollout is currently underway for both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. In terms of availability, the feature is being offered to a wide range of Workspace tiers, including Enterprise Standard and Plus, Education Standard and Plus, Frontline Standard, and Enterprise Essentials Plus. It is also available to Cloud Identity Premium customers, ensuring that a broad spectrum of professional and educational users can benefit from these enhanced administrative controls.