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"The best way to predict the future is to invent it." - Alan Kay, but Apple seems to be taking their sweet time with AI
Welcome to the 14th edition of AiOS Dispatch! Writing this from sunny California after an eventful WWDC week. The energy at Apple Park was... interesting. Let's dive into what Apple announced and what's been happening in the broader AI landscape.
Apple's WWDC 2025 took a measured approach to AI, introducing the Foundation Models framework that gives developers direct access to Apple's on-device language model. With just 3 lines of Swift code, any app can now tap into a ~3 billion parameter model that runs offline while maintaining privacy.
let model = FoundationModel()
let response = try await model.generate(prompt: "Your prompt here")
// That's it. Privacy-first AI in your app.The framework supports guided generation, tool calling, and works across all Apple platforms. Day One is already using it for journaling features, and outdoor apps are adding natural language search without internet connectivity.
Perhaps the most practical announcement: Xcode 26 now includes ChatGPT integration (and support for other models like Claude). No account needed to start, though you can connect your API keys for unlimited access. Write code, generate tests, fix bugs, and create documentation—all without leaving Xcode.
The multi-model support is refreshing. Run Ollama locally for sensitive projects or use Anthropic's Claude for complex reasoning tasks. It's Apple acknowledging that AI isn't a one-size-fits-all solution.
Visual Intelligence now works with App Intents, extending beyond the camera to analyze screenshot content. Draw a circle around anything on your screen and search for it across integrated apps like Etsy, Pinterest, or Google. The API is surprisingly elegant:
Etsy's early implementation shows promise—visual product discovery that respects privacy while supporting small businesses.
While Apple played it safe, the rest of the AI world moved at breakneck speed:
OpenAI dropped O3 Pro on June 10th, replacing O1 Pro for ChatGPT Pro users. The benchmarks are staggering:
At $20/million input tokens via API, it's positioned for "when reliability matters more than speed." The model shows that scaling compute during reinforcement learning training yields qualitative improvements, not just incremental gains.
Google made Gemini 2.0 Flash generally available in February 2025, followed quickly by 2.5 Flash with "thinking capabilities" that show reasoning processes. The multimodal support is impressive:
The new Flash-Lite variant targets high-volume, latency-sensitive tasks—perfect for mobile developers watching their compute budgets.
CES 2025 brought AI acceleration to consumer hardware:
This hardware evolution means your next Mac might run models that currently require cloud infrastructure. Apple Silicon's unified memory architecture suddenly looks prescient.
In a historic first, AI pioneers received Nobel Prizes in both Physics and Chemistry in 2024. The recognition legitimizes AI as a fundamental scientific discipline, not just a tech trend. This institutional validation will likely accelerate research funding and academic programs.
The EU AI Act went into full effect December 21, 2024, with fines up to 7% of global revenue. California's SB 1047 requires safety testing and kill switches for high-risk systems. China implemented export controls on AI chips exceeding 4800 TOPS.
Apple's cautious approach suddenly makes more sense—better to build compliant infrastructure now than scramble later.
For iOS Developers: The Foundation Models framework is your entry point to on-device AI. Start experimenting with privacy-first features that differentiate your apps from web-based alternatives.
For the Curious: Try the Xcode 26 beta with ChatGPT integration. The productivity gains are real, especially for boilerplate code and test generation.
For the Skeptical: Apple's incremental approach might frustrate, but remember—they're building for a billion devices, not just early adopters. The infrastructure they're laying will enable bigger leaps in iOS 27.
WWDC 2025 won't be remembered for breakthrough AI announcements, but for democratizing AI development on Apple platforms. While competitors race ahead with powerful models, Apple's building the pipes for privacy-preserving AI at scale.
The next six months will be crucial. Will developers embrace the Foundation Models framework? Can Visual Intelligence with App Intents create new app categories? Will Apple surprise us with Siri improvements before 2026?
One thing's certain: AI isn't waiting for anyone. Whether you're building with Apple's tools or exploring alternatives, the time to experiment is now.
Until next time, keep shipping and questioning why Siri still can't set multiple timers! 🎯
Got feedback or tips? Find me on Bluesky at @rudrank.com or lurking in various iOS developer Slack channels.