• Apple is preparing to add AI functions to the next major update of Xcode, the programming software for the iOS platform.
  • This year’s iOS 18 is said to be one of the most significant updates in iPhone history.
  • Over the past year, Apple’s stock price has also performed worse than Microsoft’s due to a persistent lack of AI capabilities.

Various signs indicate that while Microsoft and OpenAI are pioneering new AI applications, Google is rapidly iterating large models, and Meta is aggressively purchasing GPUs, Apple, which has yet to demonstrate AI capabilities, is now poised to enter the stage to showcase its artificial intelligence prowess.

Tech insider Mark Gurman revealed that Apple is preparing to introduce AI features in the next major update of its iOS platform programming software Xcode, aiming to rival Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot, which relies on OpenAI’s GPT large model.

Insiders revealed that Apple has expanded internal testing and accelerated development of these features, with plans to potentially release them to third-party software developers as early as this year.

Apple’s AI programming tool is similar to Github Copilot

Interestingly, insiders noted that Apple’s AI programming tool functionality is “very similar” to GitHub Copilot, making it convenient to explain “what this AI can do” by directly referencing Microsoft’s product.

GitHub Copilot, launched by Microsoft and OpenAI in October 2021, is an AI development tool that generates or completes code, writes test code, and provides error corrections, optimisation suggestions, and comments based on user-provided code or development requirements.

Currently, GitHub Copilot is priced at $10/month for individual developers (or $100/year), with enterprise subscriptions being more expensive.

Since its introduction, Copilot has been credited with writing around 46% of the code in projects across various platforms after two years online, and over a million programmers using AI technology have reported a 55% increase in their programming speed, underscoring AI’s indispensability to the developer community for several years now.

From a stock market perspective, this year’s WWDC, traditionally held in early June, will be a make-or-break moment for Apple. The divergence in stock performance between Apple and Microsoft over the past year also reflects differences in “AI content.”

Also read: Apple set to unveil generative AI innovations later this year

AI is the core of the iOS version upgrade

Under the shadow of ChatGPT, Apple executives, including Cook, have already hinted at unveiling Apple’s AI plans this year. Insiders revealed that Apple’s Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi has instructed the team to “develop as many AI features as possible” in this year’s iOS version upgrade.

Reportedly, Apple executives demonstrated AI features to the board at the end of last year, with much of the presentation led by Sebastian Marlowe-Mes, deputy vice president of software development, while the aforementioned Xcode was led by another deputy vice president of software engineering, Andreas Wendker.

Besides providing AI functionality to programmers, Apple’s core revenue-generating business, such as the iPhone, will not be left behind. For the upcoming iOS 18, Apple plans to label it as “one of the most significant updates in the 16-year history of the iPhone.” Additionally, new AI features will also be introduced for iPad and Mac systems.

Insiders revealed that AI features Apple is exploring include auto-generating music playlists, AI-powered slideshow creation, switching between different functions within specific applications, and enabling Siri to answer some complex questions with the support of large language models.

Interestingly, insiders specifically mentioned Samsung’s recent release in January of the “AI phone” S24 series, suggesting that some of the demos align with what Apple anticipates doing at the iPhone 16 launch event.