Apple has released macOS 27 Golden Gate, a significant update that fundamentally shifts the operating system's architecture toward artificial intelligence. Unlike previous versions, Apple Intelligence is now a mandatory system component, meaning users can no longer disable the feature or opt out of the multi-gigabyte AI models that are automatically downloaded during setup.
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macOS 27 Golden Gate Review: Mandatory Apple Intelligence and the End of Intel Support
The update marks a major milestone in Apple's transition to Apple Silicon, as it is the first macOS release that does not support Intel-based Macs. Moving forward, macOS 27 requires at least an Apple M1 chip. Consequently, support for the Rosetta 2 translation layer—which allows Intel-based software to run on Apple Silicon—is also nearing its end, with notifications appearing to warn users that support for these apps will cease in the next major release.
Apple Intelligence in Golden Gate is powered by a tiered model system. All supported devices run the AFM 3 Core model, which handles basic text summarization and image understanding. A more powerful "AFM 3 Core Advanced" model, which provides enhanced voice capabilities for Siri and improved dictation, requires more robust hardware, specifically an M3 chip or newer with at least 12GB of RAM.
Design-wise, Golden Gate focuses on refining the "Liquid Glass" interface introduced in previous versions. Notable improvements include a new slider to adjust the intensity of the glass effect, more consistent window corner rounding, and the addition of HDR (High Dynamic Range) support for the macOS user interface. Additionally, the Photos app has introduced new AI-driven tools, including "Extend" and "Reframe," which allow users to expand image borders or alter camera angles using generative AI.
Sources
- macOS 27 Golden Gate: The Ars Technica Review （Hacker News Frontpage, 2026-09-16）