Apple is preparing to significantly expand its artificial intelligence strategy by allowing third-party developers to build with its AI models, marking a major shift in the company's approach to machine learning technologies.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple will unveil a new software development kit (SDK) and related frameworks at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9, 2025. This toolkit will enable app developers to integrate Apple Intelligence features such as image creation, text editing, and other AI capabilities directly into their applications.
Initially, Apple will focus on giving developers access to the smaller AI models that run on devices rather than the more powerful cloud-based models that require server support. This cautious approach reflects Apple's traditional emphasis on privacy and on-device processing.
The move comes after Apple's first year of Apple Intelligence has faced significant challenges. The company's limited AI rollout has been hampered by reliability issues, including headline summaries that had to be paused after generating factual mistakes. In several high-profile incidents, Apple Intelligence incorrectly summarized news headlines from organizations like the BBC, creating false information that appeared to come from legitimate news sources.
By opening its AI models to developers, Apple appears to be attempting to recapture momentum in the AI race where competitors like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic have established substantial leads with increasingly capable foundation models and robust developer platforms. The strategy mirrors Apple's early App Store success, where third-party innovation helped drive platform adoption.
The WWDC announcement will come alongside previews of iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16, and other software updates. Apple is also expected to announce improvements to existing Apple Intelligence features and potentially introduce new capabilities such as an AI-powered battery management system.