Apple is reportedly planning to allow users to choose third-party AI models for the first time in its upcoming iOS 27 release, expanding Apple Intelligence capabilities to power core system features such as Siri, writing tools, and image generation, according to Bloomberg.
The shift would mark a significant move by Apple away from its traditionally closed ecosystem toward a more open platform strategy. It could also offer a potential way out of current limitations faced by iPhones in China, where AI functionality has lagged due to regulatory and ecosystem constraints.
Since Apple introduced Apple Intelligence in 2024, iPhones sold in China have faced significant limitations in accessing AI features. Due to regulatory requirements, these devices are unable to use the full suite of native AI capabilities. This includes services like ChatGPT, leaving users reliant on the slower, traditional Siri or requiring them to download separate large-model apps and navigate cumbersome steps to perform AI tasks.
This fragmented experience has weighed on efficiency and left China-market iPhones at a disadvantage in the AI space.
However, the upcoming iOS 27 update could fundamentally change that. The new system is expected to introduce a feature called Extensions, a high-permission, flexible module that would allow users to set third-party AI applications as the default engine on their devices.
