Apple’s AI Progress and Upcoming News at WWDC 2025
Mark Gurman, in his latest Power On newsletter, reports that some Apple insiders are worried the forthcoming WWDC may fall short of expectations regarding AI progress, suggesting that Apple is trailing behind its rivals in the AI domain. Nonetheless, the company plans to unveil several AI-related updates on June 9.
One of the year’s most crucial announcements will be Apple’s effort to grant third-party developers access to its on-device foundation models. These models, which encompass around 3 billion parameters, are currently deployed for tasks like text summarization and autocorrect. By permitting developers to integrate these models into their applications, Apple intends to boost the functionality of third-party apps and equip developers with robust tools for creating innovative features.
Despite this advancement, it should be highlighted that Apple’s on-device models are significantly less sophisticated than the extensive cloud-based systems utilized by firms such as OpenAI and Google. Consequently, while developers may receive access to beneficial tools, the features arising from these integrations may lack groundbreaking innovation.
AI Functionalities in iOS 26
Alongside the announcements for developers, Apple is reportedly set to unveil various AI functionalities in the forthcoming iOS 26. These functionalities comprise:
– A new battery power management mode intended to optimize device performance.
– A revamp of the Translate app, which will now incorporate AirPods and Siri.
– The rollout of AI-driven descriptions for features within applications like Safari and Photos.
Gurman characterizes this period as a “gap year” for Apple, indicating that the company is gearing up for more significant breakthroughs at WWDC 2026. However, with swift advancements from competitors, there are worries that postponing major announcements could further impact Apple’s reputation as an AI pioneer.
Ongoing AI Initiatives
Apple’s existing AI initiatives involve the creation of a large language model (LLM) for Siri, an enhanced Shortcuts app, the health-oriented Project Mulberry, and a potential rival to ChatGPT with web search functionalities. Gurman mentions that Apple is holding back previews of some of these features to prevent repeating former errors when the company presented features that were unready for launch.
Internally, Apple has progressed in its AI capabilities, with models in testing that vary from 3 billion to 150 billion parameters. The largest models depend on cloud infrastructure, and internal evaluations suggest that Apple’s leading model is approaching the quality of the latest ChatGPT updates. However, worries surrounding inaccuracies and ongoing debates regarding Apple’s stance on generative AI have kept these advancements low-key.
Apple’s Developer AI Narrative
For developers, Apple is anticipated to enhance the integration of AI within its development tools, including improvements for user interface testing. Notably, SwiftUI, Apple’s framework for creating app user interfaces, will finally present a built-in rich text editor, a long-anticipated feature for many developers. Furthermore, an update on Swift Assist, the AI code-completion tool revealed last year, is expected, though it remains uncertain if this update will incorporate the Anthropic-powered version currently undergoing testing by Apple employees.
In summary, although Apple has made considerable progress in AI and is prepared to announce crucial developments at WWDC 2025, the company encounters difficulties in keeping up with competitors. The forthcoming announcements will be closely monitored as Apple strives to redefine its role in the swiftly changing AI landscape.
