Apple is about to let you replace its AI with ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude — and it could change the iPhone forever
Publish Date: 2026-05-07 04:40:00
Source Domain: www.techradar.com
- Apple Intelligence will let you choose which AI models power its features
- iPhones 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 OpenAI’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 iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 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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Platform over product
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…
