The on-device AI
Why Kith requires Apple Intelligence
The screen you may see at launch, what each state means, and why the answer is a gate rather than a lesser version.
Kith checks for Apple Intelligence when it launches. On-device AI is the product here rather than a garnish, so a half-working Kith would be worse than an honest explanation.
What you need
iPhone 15 Pro or later, running iOS 26 or later, with Apple Intelligence turned on in Settings and the on-device model finished downloading.
What you might see
- Hardware that cannot run Apple Intelligence: a full-screen explanation instead of the app. This one is an honest dead end.
- Apple Intelligence turned off: a screen with a direct path into iOS Settings, which clears itself when you come back.
- The model still downloading: an explanation that resolves on its own the next time you open Kith.
Why not a lesser version instead
Circles, cadences, the Warmth Ring, the Orbit, logging, notes, important dates, reminders, widgets, and Spotlight are not AI features. The helpers that make Kith worth opening every day are, so the app gates rather than quietly hiding half of itself.
Email support@obsidianridgelabs.com, a real person will reply.