Apple to give IT admins more control to limit ChatGPT access for employees

ChatGPT

Artificial intelligence is seeping into the modern workplace, but it’s also raising tricky new questions for companies about privacy and data management. Apple is now working on tools that give IT administrators more control over how employees use AI services like ChatGPT.

According to a report from TechCrunch, the system will let administrators allow or block access to ChatGPT Enterprise, with the ability to toggle specific features on or off. Crucially, it also offers the option to prevent employee queries from being sent to ChatGPT’s cloud servers — even if the company hasn’t subscribed to OpenAI’s business tier. That measure could help stop sensitive data or intellectual property from slipping into external AI systems.

While the spotlight is on ChatGPT, Apple’s controls won’t stop there. The same framework is designed to govern any “external” AI service, such as Anthropic’s Claude or Google’s Gemini. For enterprises, that could mean tighter oversight of multiple AI tools, reducing the risk of leaks while keeping workplace compliance in check.

The development also hints at Apple’s long-term AI strategy. On the consumer side, the company has a high-profile deal with OpenAI that integrates ChatGPT into the iPhone. But for enterprises, Apple appears to be leaving the door open to more flexibility, preparing for a future in which businesses may prefer different AI partners.

Apple has repeatedly stressed its Private Cloud Compute architecture as a way to secure data handled by Apple Intelligence, its in-house AI system. But since it can’t vouch for third-party providers, these new enterprise tools could serve as a stopgap — giving companies more control while Apple gradually deepens its AI offerings.