Apple to Allow Third-Party AI in Intelligence Features

Apple plans to introduce a feature in its upcoming operating system updates that will allow users to select third-party artificial intelligence models to power key Apple Intelligence functions, according to people familiar with the matter.

The change, referred to internally as "Extensions," is expected to launch this fall with iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27. Users will be able to choose preferred AI providers through the Settings app, enabling those models to handle tasks such as generating and editing text, creating images, and responding to queries via Siri and other tools like Writing Tools and Image Playground.

AI providers can opt in by updating their App Store applications to support the Extensions system. Apple has conducted internal testing with models from Google and Anthropic, the people said. For instance, Google's Gemini app or Anthropic's Claude app could integrate to serve as alternatives for computationally intensive tasks, while Apple Intelligence remains the default for on-device, privacy-focused operations like quick summaries and basic suggestions.

Siri interactions will include distinct voices to indicate when a third-party model is responding, helping users...