Apple has opened its foundational AI model to third-party developers for the first time, allowing direct access to the on-device large language model that powers Apple Intelligence. The move, announced at this week’s Worldwide Developers Conference, represents a significant shift in Apple’s traditionally closed ecosystem approach to Apple AI developer tools.
The newly accessible three-billion parameter model operates entirely on-device, reflecting Apple’s privacy-first philosophy while imposing technical limitations compared to cloud-based alternatives from competitors.
“We’re opening up access for any app to tap directly into the on-device, large language model at the core of Apple,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief, during the conference presentation, according to Reuters.
The foundation model framework enables direct access
The new Foundation Models framework allows developers to integrate Apple Intelligence features with just three lines of Swift code, providing privacy-focused AI inference at no cost. The framework includes guided generation and tool-calling capabilities built-in.
Automattic has already begun leveraging the framework in its Day One journaling app. “The Foundation Model framework has helped us rethink what’s possible with journaling,” Paul Mayne, head of Day One at Automattic