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Apple Lets iOS 18 Users Choose Rival AI Models
Apple intends to introduce greater flexibility in its AI ecosystem by allowing users to choose third-party models for tasks in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. The updates, expected this fall, will enable integrations with models from providers like Google and Anthropic. This move comes as CEO Tim Cook prepares to step down, with John Ternus set to take over.
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Apple plans to let users choose rival AI models across iOS 27 features, Bloomberg News reports. The updates, expected this fall, will also apply to iPadOS 27 and macOS 27. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the capability, dubbed "Extensions" internally, will let users access generative AI capabilities from installed apps on demand through Apple Intelligence features such as Siri, Writing Tools, and Image Playground.
Compatible third-party AI models will be able to run these features. Apple is testing models from Google and Anthropic now, with internal integrations underway for their AI models. ChatGPT is currently the model available to users. The updates will allow users to choose from AI model providers that opt in by adding support through their App Store apps.
Once a compatible AI app is installed, users will be able to set it as their preferred AI through the Settings app.
Apple plans to offer more AI flexibility with iOS 27, including the ability to choose different Siri voices for different AI models. Siri responses from one of Apple's AI models could have one voice, while an instance of Siri running on ChatGPT could use another voice, Gurman reported.
The company is planning to allow third-party chatbots to power its AI features in the updates expected this fall.
