Apple Intelligence will reportedly let you choose third-party AI models in iOS 27

Editor's take

Apple's upcoming iOS 17 update, dubbed "Apple Intelligence," is slated to allow users to select third-party large language models (LLMs) as an alternative to its native AI capabilities. This move signifies a significant departure from Apple's typical closed ecosystem approach, potentially opening the door for more specialized or advanced AI tools to integrate directly into the iPhone and iPad user experience.

The implication is a more flexible and potentially powerful AI assistant. Users might opt for models like OpenAI's GPT-4 or Anthropic's Claude for specific tasks, rather than being limited to Apple's proprietary offerings. This could foster competition and innovation, as developers are incentivized to build deeply integrated applications that leverage external AI models, impacting how consumers interact with generative AI on their devices.

Looking ahead, the success of this strategy will depend on the ease of integration, the breadth of third-party model support, and Apple's ability to maintain a seamless user experience across these different AI backends. It will be crucial to observe how developers respond with AI-powered features and whether this approach leads to a more fragmented or a more enriched AI landscape on Apple devices compared to the current state of mobile AI.