Build a simple AI study buddy with Apple Intelligence on your Mac
Quickly create personal quizzes on any topic using Apple Intelligence on your Mac, turning learning into a fun, interactive experience in minutes.
Want to quickly test yourself on a new topic, brush up on facts, or help someone else learn? This guide will show you how to use Apple Intelligence, the new personal intelligence system for Apple devices, to create a simple quiz-maker right on your Mac. You'll have a custom study buddy ready in under 10 minutes, making learning much more interactive and efficient.
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- A Mac with Apple Intelligence enabled: This requires a specific Mac model running macOS Sequoia. Make sure your system is updated and Apple Intelligence is active.
- An Apple ID: You'll need to be signed in to your Apple ID to use Apple Intelligence features.
- The Notes app (or Pages, Mail, etc.): Any app where you can type and interact with text will work. We'll use Notes for this guide.
- Time: Allow about 5-10 minutes to follow along.
Open a writing app
To begin, you’ll need a place to start writing your quiz request. Open the Notes app on your Mac. You can find it in your Applications folder, by clicking its icon in the Dock, or by searching for "Notes" using Spotlight (press Command + Spacebar, then type "Notes").
You'll know it worked when the Notes window appears on your screen, likely showing a list of your existing notes or a blank "New Note" ready for you to type in. If you see a list of notes, look for a button like a square with a pencil icon to create a new, blank note. A new note is like a fresh piece of paper for your AI study buddy.

Type your quiz request
Now that you have a blank canvas, tell Apple Intelligence what kind of quiz you’d like to create. Be clear and specific about the topic, the number of questions, and the format (e.g., multiple-choice, true/false, short answer). This instruction is called a prompt, which is simply the instruction you give to an AI.
You’ll know it worked when your request is typed clearly into the body of the note, ready for the next step.

Activate Writing Tools
With your request typed out, it's time to bring Apple Intelligence into action using its Writing Tools. These are system-wide features that use AI to enhance your text, whether it's drafting, rewriting, or summarising. Select the entire request you just typed by dragging your cursor over it, or by triple-clicking the paragraph. Then, either right-click on the selected text or look for a small AI icon that might appear when text is selected.
You'll know it worked when a context menu appears, offering options related to your selection. Look for options like "Writing Tools," "Rewrite," or a general "Ask AI" choice. If it looks different, remember that app interfaces can vary; look for a small icon that might resemble a sparkle, a star, or a pen, often near the text you've highlighted.

Generate the quiz
From the Writing Tools menu, choose an option that lets you generate new text based on your prompt. For creating a quiz, "Rewrite" can work by guiding it, or "Draft" might be available, which generates content from scratch. Select the "Rewrite" or "Draft with AI" option. A panel might slide in asking for more specifics or directly present a generated output.
You'll know it worked when Apple Intelligence processes your request and a draft of a quiz (or a good start to one) appears on your screen, replacing or appearing near your original prompt. If the first attempt isn't quite right, you might see a "Try Again" or "Refine" button to help guide the AI further.

Review and refine the quiz
Once Apple Intelligence has generated the quiz, it's crucial to review it for accuracy and clarity. AI, while smart, can sometimes make small mistakes or "hallucinate" (confidently make up information that isn't true), especially with niche topics. Read each question and its options carefully. You can directly edit any part of the text that needs adjustment, just like you would with any other text.
You'll know it worked when you've read through the entire quiz, made any necessary corrections to questions or options, and feel confident that it's accurate and well-written. If a question is unclear, you can even select just that question and use the Writing Tools again to "Simplify" or "Rephrase" it.

Add the answer key
A study buddy isn't complete without answers! After you've refined the quiz questions, you can ask Apple Intelligence to provide an answer key. Type a new request immediately after the quiz questions, or select the entire quiz and use the Writing Tools again with a new instruction.
You'll know it worked when a list of correct answers appears below your quiz, either with explanations or simply stating the correct option for each question. If the AI provides answers within the quiz questions directly, simply move them to a separate key for better study use. This makes your quiz ready for practice.

- Vague quiz requests: If your quiz isn't quite what you wanted, the AI might have been confused by a general request.
- Fix: Be highly specific in your initial prompt. For example, instead of "quiz on history," try "a 10-question multiple-choice quiz about Australian history from 1900-1950, suitable for high school students, with four options for each question."
- Fact-checking is missed: Sometimes AI can "hallucinate" or provide incorrect information, especially on complex or very new topics.
- Fix: Always, always review the generated quiz content. Treat the AI as a helpful assistant, not an infallible expert. Double-check any facts or figures that seem questionable.
- Apple Intelligence doesn't seem to respond: You might not see the Writing Tools or AI options appear.
- Fix: Ensure your Mac is compatible with Apple Intelligence (check Apple's official requirements for specific models and macOS versions) and that you are signed in with your Apple ID. Restarting the app or your Mac can sometimes resolve minor glitches.
Open the Notes app on your Mac and try creating a three-question multiple-choice quiz about your breakfast this morning, complete with an answer key. See how quickly you can generate your very first AI study buddy!
❓ Quick questions
How long does this take?
About 6 minutes — the guide has 6 steps, and you can tick each one off as you go.
Which tool do I need?
This guide uses Apple Apple Intelligence — but the approach works very similarly in other AI assistants.
Do I need to prepare anything?
- A Mac with Apple Intelligence enabled: This requires a specific Mac model running macOS Sequoia. Make sure your system is updated and Apple Intelligence is active.
- An Apple ID: You'll need to be signed in to your Apple ID to use Apple Intelligence features.
- The Notes app (or Pages, Mail, etc.): Any app where you can type and interact with text will work. We'll use Notes for this guide.
- Time: Allow about 5-10 minutes to follow along.
What mistakes should I avoid?
- Vague quiz requests: If your quiz isn't quite what you wanted, the AI might have been confused by a general request.
- Fix: Be highly specific in your initial prompt. For example, instead of "quiz on history," try "a 10-question multiple-choice quiz about Australian history from 1900-1950, suitable for high school students, with four options for each question."
- Fact-checking is missed: Sometimes AI can "hallucinate" or provide incorrect information, especially on complex or very new topics.
- Fix: Always, always review the generated quiz content. Treat the AI as a helpful assistant, not an infallible expert. Double-check any facts or figures that seem questionable.
- Apple Intelligence doesn't seem to respond: You might not see the Writing Tools or AI options appear.
- Fix: Ensure your Mac is compatible with Apple Intelligence (check Apple's official requirements for specific models and macOS versions) and that you are signed in with your Apple ID. Restarting the app or your Mac can sometimes resolve minor glitches.
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✦ Original step-by-step guide by AI World HQ's AI editorial team. Written in plain language, reviewed for accuracy.
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