Apple opening AI models to developers at WWDC 2025

Apple‘s upcoming move to open its AI models to third-party developers represents a significant shift in its AI strategy, potentially revitalizing its ecosystem amid fierce competition from established AI players. This developer access, expected to be announced at WWDC on June 9, aims to transform Apple Intelligence from a limited first-party feature set into a robust platform that could mirror the success pattern of the original App Store, while potentially creating new revenue streams as traditional App Store income faces regulatory challenges.

The big picture: Apple plans to give developers access to its AI models through a new software development kit and frameworks, enabling third-party apps to leverage the same foundation models powering Apple Intelligence across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

• Initially, developers will only have access to the on-device, smaller-scale versions of Apple’s AI models rather than the more powerful cloud-based versions.
• This on-device approach should provide faster, more private interactions, though with less powerful AI capabilities than cloud-based alternatives.

Why this matters: The move comes as Apple’s initial AI rollout has faced criticism for its limited feature set and reliability issues, falling behind competitors like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic who continue rapidly advancing their AI capabilities.

• Some early features like headline summaries had to be paused after generating factual errors that caused public backlash.
• Current Apple Intelligence features are limited to notification summaries, writing suggestions, and image generation, with developers previously restricted to integrating with only specific user-facing tools.

The financial angle: Bloomberg reports this AI ecosystem expansion could help offset potential App Store revenue losses from global regulatory pressure.

• A recent US court ruling requires Apple to allow developers to direct customers to web-based purchasing options that bypass Apple’s revenue-sharing system.
• A potential surge in innovative AI-powered apps could create new subscription opportunities within the App Store ecosystem.

The strategic play: By opening its AI platform, Apple appears to be attempting to replicate the App Store’s initial success formula—creating an exclusive ecosystem of innovative experiences that differentiate its hardware platforms.

• If implementation is developer-friendly, Apple could quickly build a distinctive collection of AI-powered apps unavailable on competing platforms.
• This approach leverages Apple’s traditional strength in creating tightly integrated hardware-software ecosystems with compelling developer incentives.