Apple will debut a new software development kit (SDK) in iOS 19 that will make it easier for third-party developers to add Artificial Intelligence features. The company will allow developers to access its AI models in their apps, reports Bloomberg.
The SDK will include the same large language models (LLMs) used by Apple for Apple Intelligence features, including its Witing Tools, Image Playgtound, notification summaries, and more. However, Apple will at first focus on the smaller models that can be run on-device.
Although Apple announced a new personalized Siri experience in iOS 18 at WWDC 2024 last June, the functionality was not (and is still not) ready for prime time, and the features have been delayed until iOS 19. This has led to severe criticism for Apple for the missing features.
Bloomberg says Apple is hoping that by opening up access to its AI models, it will entice developers to create use cases that will better attract customers. While devs can currently integrate Apple Intelligence features like notification summaries, Writing Tools, Genmoji, and Image Playground into their apps, they are not able to create new AI features using Apple’s framework. Instead developers are required to integrate third-party AI models into their apps. Apple is hoping to change that.
Apple has been working on in-house LLMs and plans to eventually introduce a version Siri that relies on those LLMs and that is more like the chatbots from ChatGPT, Google, and other AI firms.
Apple will make AI-related announcements at the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC2025), which will kickoff on Monday, June 9.