Apple is about to let you replace its AI with Chat GPT, Gemini, and Claude — and it could change the i Phone forever | Tech Radar
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Apple is about to let you replace its AI with Chat GPT, Gemini, and Claude — and it could change the i Phone forever
Apple Intelligence will offer a broader AI lineup than you might expect
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Apple Intelligence will let you choose which AI models power its features
i Phones using Apple Intelligence will be open third-party systems like Google and Anthropic instead of relying on a single default
It will mean the end of Open AI's exclusive role in Apple Intelligence
Apple is going to give you a choice of AI models to power the Apple Intelligence features rolling out to its devices instead of just sticking to a single default, according to a report in Bloomberg News.
Allowing users to select from multiple third-party models is a major departure from Apple's usual strategy of tightly controlled experiences. It's more reminiscent of how Android and other operating systems have functioned than the closely guarded Apple Store options.
The options are called Extensions and are coming to i OS 27, i Pad OS 27, and mac OS 27 this fall. The Extensions will offer a choice of AI models for writing, image generation, and even voice conversations. Instead of one assistant responding to every request, the system could route queries to different providers depending on a user's preferences. It's part of Apple's larger plans for revamped AI features, including a suite of new tools for Photos and a complete redesign of Siri.
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Apple has reportedly already tested integrations with systems from Google and Anthropic. Those partnerships would sit alongside Apple’s models, which will still run features built into the device.
No single company leads in every aspect of AI, as the plan tacitly acknowledges. Allowing outside models to plug into its ecosystem means Apple can offer more advanced AI tools without needing to build each one itself, something the company has struggled to do at the pace of its new partners.
It enables Apple to keep pace with rapid developments across the industry while maintaining control over how those tools are presented. And for those companies, Apple’s ecosystem offers scale that is difficult to match elsewhere. Even a limited integration could bring a large audience to alternative models, accelerating competition within the space.
The extra decisions of AI models will likely appeal to those who want some flexibility in their AI options. On the other hand, some people like Apple because the company promotes the idea that all of its features have been curated so that you automatically get the best option. It removes the streamlined simplicity of Apple's operating systems, which is a major draw for some customers.
Notably, Apple's plan means that Open AI, whose Chat GPT system currently serves as the primary external AI option for Apple devices, will lose its exclusive position. That exclusivity has been valuable for Open AI, but the new strategy means Chat GPT will simply be one choice among many.
Of course, Apple's reduced control means users might not be able to assume that everything the AI tools produce has been approved by the company. Apple will have to make it clear it isn't responsible for content generated by third-party AI models even as it points users to compatible AI apps within the App Store.
A lot of companies take their cues from Apple’s design decisions. This call suggests that in the current phase of AI, control may matter less than access. By making its devices a place where different models can coexist, Apple is betting that flexibility will be more valuable than exclusivity.
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Eric Hal Schwartz is a freelance writer for Tech Radar with more than 15 years of experience covering the intersection of the world and technology. For the last five years, he served as head writer for Voicebot.ai and was on the leading edge of reporting on generative AI and large language models. He's since become an expert on the products of generative AI models, such as Open AI’s Chat GPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google Gemini, and every other synthetic media tool. His experience runs the gamut of media, including print, digital, broadcast, and live events. Now, he's continuing to tell the stories people want and need to hear about the rapidly evolving AI space and its impact on their lives. Eric is based in New York City.
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