Hoping to spur innovative software development, Apple plans a strategic move in the artificial intelligence space by allowing third-party developers to access its AI models, according to a new report.
Hoping to spur software development, Apple plans to open AI models to third-party developers
Apple plans to release a software development kit that will enable outside developers to build new AI features using the same large language models that power Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI platform, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. He said a related announcement should come June 9 at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC25).
The initiative will initially focus on giving developers access to Apple’s smaller, on-device AI models rather than the more powerful cloud-based versions that require server resources. This approach represents part of Apple’s broader strategy to establish itself as a leader in generative AI, a field where the company has struggled to keep pace with competitors despite launching the Apple Intelligence platform last year.
A rocky start for Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence faced challenges from the start. The company had to suspend its AI-generated news summaries after errors drew criticism from media organizations. Its custom emoji tool, Genmoji, also received mixed reviews for creating icons that often differ significantly from those shown in Apple’s promotional materials. Some of the platform’s more useful features, such as Writing Tools, rely on OpenAI’s ChatGPT for text generation rather than Apple’s own technology.
Currently, developers have limited options for integrating Apple Intelligence into their applications. They can implement features like notification prioritization and summaries, incorporate Writing Tools and Genmoji, or use the Image Playground app. However, they have not been able to directly access the underlying AI technology — Apple Foundation Models — to develop their own artificial intelligence capabilities.
Betting on developer innovation
Photo: Grok/Cult of Mac
By opening its AI models to third-party developers, Apple hopes to replicate the success of the App Store, the report said. The App Store flourished after the company shared its technologies and software frameworks with external developers. The move could transform Apple’s operating systems into the largest software platforms for AI applications.
The strategy may also provide financial benefits for Apple. The company receives a percentage of subscription revenue from apps. This comes at a time when the App Store faces regulatory challenges, including a recent U.S. court ruling that requires Apple to let developers direct customers to web-based purchasing options that bypass the company’s revenue-sharing system.
Looking ahead to WWDC25
While the developer announcement should be a highlight of WWDC25, the conference will likely focus primarily on redesigned versions of the iPhone, iPad and Mac operating systems under a project code-named Solarium. Apple’s glossy new user interfaces reportedly will look more cohesive, similar to the visionOS operating system used on the Vision Pro headset.
Apple is also developing an AI-powered battery management mode for consumers and an AI-enhanced Health app with a virtual wellness coach. But the latter likely won’t arrive until 2026.
Additionally, Apple previously planned to introduce enhanced App Intents functionality, according to the report. That would give users more precise control over app features through the Siri voice assistant. The company now aims to introduce this capability during the iOS 19 release cycle, beginning in September and continuing into 2026.
By expanding access to its AI models, Apple bets developer innovation will create more compelling applications for its technology and help the company catch up in the increasingly competitive AI landscape.
