Apple and Anthropic are partnering to create a new AI-powered coding tool for Xcode that could revolutionize how developers write software for Apple's platforms. This is a big shift in Apple's AI strategy as the company looks beyond its own technology to compete in the generative AI race.
Key Points
- Apple is integrating Anthropic's Claude Sonnet AI model into Xcode to automatically write, edit, and test code
- The tool is being rolled out internally first, with no decision yet on public release
- This partnership marks Apple's first major third-party AI integration beyond the ChatGPT deal for Siri
According to reporting by Bloomberg, the new "vibe-coding" platform will integrate Anthropic's Claude Sonnet model directly into Xcode, Apple's primary programming environment used by millions of developers worldwide. The system will allow programmers to describe what they want in natural language through a chat interface, with the AI handling everything from writing code to testing user interfaces and managing bug fixes.
This partnership reveals cracks in Apple's typically self-reliant approach to new technology. Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that Apple's own AI coding assistant, Swift Assist, has faced internal criticism for hallucinations and actually slowing down development in some cases. The system was announced last year but never shipped to developers—like many of Apple's other promised AI features.
The collaboration with Anthropic, whose Claude models are widely regarded as among the best for coding tasks, suggests Apple is taking a more pragmatic approach to AI development. It's a notable departure from the company's traditional insistence on building everything in-house, especially for developer tools that form the backbone of its ecosystem.
Currently, Apple is testing the new system internally across its engineering teams. If successful, the company could release it to third-party developers, potentially transforming how apps are built for iOS, macOS, and other Apple platforms. With Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference scheduled for June 9, the timing could align for a public announcement—though sources caution that no final decision has been made.
This move comes as Apple scrambles to catch up in the AI race after being "caught flat-footed" by the generative AI boom over two years ago. The company has already partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT with Siri and is reportedly planning to add Google's Gemini as another option later this year.
The partnership also represents a major win for Anthropic, which has been making inroads with enterprise customers but hasn't yet secured the kind of platform-level integration that could come with Apple's developer tools. With millions of developers using Xcode to build apps for Apple's ecosystem, successful adoption could significantly expand Anthropic's reach.