If there’s one thing Apple doesn’t want to be called, it’s late to the party. Yet when it comes to mobile AI, the company has been trailing behind heavyweights like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. As criticism mounts over Siri’s lackluster upgrades and a perceived innovation gap, Apple is turning to its biggest strength: its developer community.
According to a recent Bloomberg report, at WWDC this June, Apple plans to throw its doors wide open. The tech giant will let third-party developers tap directly into the brains of Apple Intelligence, meaning those clever AI features we’ve seen in Apple’s native apps can soon power your favorite iPhone tools.
Opening Up Apple Intelligence to Developers
For years, developers wanting AI on iOS had to rely on prebuilt components—notification summaries, writing assistance, and the like. Under the hood? The true language models behind Apple’s AI features remained off-limits. That meant most apps used rival AI services, from ChatGPT to Gemini, simply because they could integrate them directly.
By providing access to its so-called Foundation Models, Apple hopes to flip the script. Instead of shoehorning notifications into an existing framework, apps can leverage the raw AI engine to craft personalized experiences—whether it’s smarter photo tagging, in-app tutoring, or next-level voice assistants.
It’s a bold move that mirrors the launch of the App Store over a decade ago. Back then, developers flocked to experiment with new SDKs and APIs, giving birth to an ecosystem that transformed the iPhone. Apple wants lightning to strike twice by empowering its community to find the next breakthrough in on-device intelligence.
Limited Model Access at Launch
On-Device vs. Cloud Models
Apple won’t be handing out keys to its most powerful cloud-hosted model right away. Instead, the initial rollout will center on the smaller variant that runs locally on the iPhone. Think of it as giving developers a pocket-sized AI they can embed directly in their apps—no server calls required.
Why the cautious approach? Managing server load is a practical concern. If every app suddenly started churning through billions of AI queries, Apple’s infrastructure could buckle. By starting with the leaner local model, the company can gauge demand and iron out any hiccups before unleashing its heavier artillery.
That said, don’t expect cloud-only features like real-time video understanding or massive dataset analysis—at least not yet. Apple will likely reserve the beefiest model for its own apps until it’s confident the platform can scale. But even limited access marks a dramatic departure from the past few years, when only Apple’s internal teams held the keys.
Aiming to Become the Biggest AI Software Platform
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg calls it the makings of the “largest AI software platform in the world.” By plastering the iPhone with AI capabilities and letting developers bake them into everyday apps, Apple hopes to showcase that its hardware isn’t trailing behind competitors when it comes to smarts.
From enhanced fitness coaches that adapt routines on the fly to language-learning apps that provide instant, contextual feedback, the possibilities are endless. Apple wants to prove that its blend of silicon and software can deliver smooth, secure, and private AI experiences—advantages it believes set it apart from cloud-heavy rivals.
Looking Forward to WWDC 2025
All eyes will be on Apple when WWDC 2025 kicks off on June 9. We expect detailed demos, fresh developer tools, and clear guidelines on how to integrate the Foundation Models into everything from games to productivity suites. Apple will also need to address questions on privacy, performance, and monetization to get developers and users on board.
At the end of the day, Apple’s success hinges on community adoption. If indie devs and major studios alike embrace Apple Intelligence, we could see a new wave of iPhone apps that redefine what a mobile AI experience can be. And if not? Well, Apple’s track record shows it’s not shy about iterating until it gets things right.
