Apple is set to take a significant step in its artificial intelligence strategy by opening up its on-device Foundation AI models to third-party developers at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 9, 2025.
According to multiple reports, Apple will provide developers with a new software development kit (SDK) and related frameworks that will allow them to integrate the company's on-device AI models into their applications. These are the same ~3 billion parameter models that currently power Apple Intelligence features like text summarization, notification management, and writing tools across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
The move comes as Apple faces increasing pressure to expand its AI ecosystem amid fierce competition from rivals like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft. By opening its AI models to developers, Apple aims to foster innovation and create a broader range of AI-powered experiences exclusive to its platforms.
"To start, Apple will open up its smaller models that run on its devices, rather than the more powerful cloud-based AI models that require servers," reported Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who has a reliable track record on Apple developments. These on-device models, while less powerful than cloud-based alternatives, offer advantages in privacy and performance without requiring internet connectivity.
However, expectations for major new AI announcements at WWDC 2025 should be tempered. Industry insiders suggest this year's conference may be more modest in scope regarding AI advancements, as Apple continues to refine its Apple Intelligence features introduced last year. The company appears to be taking a more cautious approach after facing challenges with its initial AI rollout, including having to pull back some previously announced features.
For developers, this access represents an opportunity to enhance their applications with native AI capabilities like improved text processing, summarization, and potentially image recognition—all while maintaining Apple's privacy-focused approach by processing data on-device rather than in the cloud.