Apple is taking a significant step toward making its AI platform more flexible and user-centric. According to a Bloomberg News report published today, the company plans to let users select and switch between third-party AI models for powering features across Apple Intelligence in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 this fall.
Currently, Apple Intelligence relies primarily on Apple’s own on-device models, with an option to tap into OpenAI’s ChatGPT for more complex requests. Starting with this year’s major OS updates, users will gain the ability to choose from a broader range of outside AI services for tasks such as:
• Generating and editing text
• Creating and manipulating images
• Other generative AI features
This expansion builds on Apple’s strategy of positioning its devices as a comprehensive AI platform while giving users more control and choice.
An “Extensions” menu in Settings is expected to let users assign preferred models (such as xAI’s Grok, Google’s Gemini, or Anthropic’s Claude) to handle specific Apple Intelligence tasks. This approach allows Apple to avoid building every capability in-house while addressing longstanding criticisms of Siri and its relatively limited intelligence compared to dedicated AI assistants.
Why This Matters
• User Choice: Instead of being locked into one provider, iPhone, iPad, and Mac owners can tailor their AI experience.
• Competitive Edge: It positions Apple as an open platform that integrates best-of-breed models rather than trying to compete solely with its own silicon and software.
• Privacy Focus: Apple is expected to maintain its emphasis on on-device processing where possible and user consent for cloud-based models.
• Developer Opportunities: Broader model support could encourage more third-party apps and services to integrate deeply with Apple Intelligence.
Broader iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Context
This news aligns with other reported iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 efforts, including deeper Visual Intelligence integration in the Camera app, performance and quality improvements (echoing the “Snow Leopard” philosophy), and the revolutionary LLM Siri. Apple appears focused on both polishing the foundation and accelerating its own AI ambitions.
Market Reaction
Following the report, Apple shares rose more than 2% in trading, while Alphabet (Google) also gained on expectations of deeper partnerships.
MacDailyNews Take: We’ll likely hear official details at WWDC 2026 in June, with developer betas following shortly after and public releases in September. If the plans hold, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 could mark the moment Apple Intelligence truly becomes a customizable, multi-model experience rather than a single-vendor showcase.
Apple [should] allow users to choose – gasp! – which AI model they’d like to underpin Siri. – MacDailyNews, January 20, 2026
This is a smart evolution for John Ternus’ Apple — one that balances its legendary control with the reality that the AI landscape is moving too fast for any single company to dominate every use case alone.
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I sincerely hope there is the choice of, “Nope, no thanks, don’t want it, don’t need it” otherwise “upgrades” are a non-starter…
This is no different than being able to select one’s default search engine from a long list. This makes good sense for Apple since IT’S A DEVICES COMPANY!, not a software company. It’s always been A DEVICES COMPANY. How many times does that have to be pounded into people’s heads before they get it? Any software that Apple has developed has been on behalf of making its devices more capable, useworthy and valuable to a planet’s worth of software [app] development companies.
This was announced in 2024 :\
Again, what is OpenAI’s plan in China when they’re blocked in that country. Apple needs to partner with Baidu/Doubao, etc so they have a model in that country.