In a significant step towards advancing generative AI tools for developers, Apple is reportedly working with Anthropic—an AI startup backed by Amazon—to create an advanced artificial intelligence-based coding platform.
According to a News report citing sources familiar with the matter, this project will use Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet AI model to enhance Apple’s integrated development environment (IDE), Xcode.
The tool is designed to write, edit, and test code autonomously, effectively serving as a virtual assistant for programmers. The approach, termed "vibe coding," involves AI agents generating code dynamically—an emerging trend in the rapidly growing AI development space.
"Vibe coding" refers to a programming method where AI agents generate code, a concept gaining popularity in the AI landscape.
This technique is gaining momentum among developers and enterprises seeking to speed up software production cycles and reduce manual coding effort.
The new AI-enhanced version of Xcode will leverage Claude Sonnet, Anthropic’s cutting-edge generative AI model, to assist developers by automating several aspects of programming.
"Vibe coding" software platform that will use artificial intelligence to write, edit, and test code on behalf of programmers, news agency reported.
Despite the powerful features under development, Apple is currently restricting the tool’s usage to internal teams, with no decision yet on a public launch.
"Apple plans to deploy the software internally, with the company still undecided on a public launch," the report added.
Anthropic has declined to comment on the collaboration, and Apple has not yet responded to Reuters' request for clarification.
This isn't Apple’s first venture into AI-assisted coding. In 2024, the company announced Swift Assist, an AI-powered coding assistant intended to be integrated into Xcode. However, the tool was never released publicly.
"Previously, Apple announced an AI-driven coding tool for Xcode named Swift Assist, intended for a 2024 release. However, it was never made available to developers, with some concerns from Apple's engineers about potential slowdowns in app development," The news agency added.
Concerns over performance and workflow disruptions reportedly led to the delay or potential cancellation of Swift Assist’s launch.
The news follows increasing competition among major technology firms racing to dominate the generative AI space. Bloomberg recently reported that OpenAI is in talks to acquire Windsurf, an AI coding startup, for approximately $3 billion, reflecting the rising value of such tools.
"Coding assistants are gaining traction in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, with news agency reporting last month that GenAI pioneer OpenAI is in discussions to buy artificial intelligence-assisted coding tool Windsurf for about $3 billion."
Apple is ramping up its AI capabilities by integrating on-device AI features and enhancing its chipsets to better handle advanced tasks. These chips now support AI functions like directly invoking OpenAI’s ChatGPT to respond to user queries, as the company aims to offer smarter and more responsive experiences across its devices.
"Apple has been equipping its devices with more powerful chips designed to handle AI tasks, such as summoning OpenAI's ChatGPT to answer user queries, as it seeks to attract customers."
Apple's latest updates 2025
As of Saturday, May 3, 2025, 12:39 PM IST here are the latest updates from Apple:
Stable Releases (Mid-April 2025): Apple released iOS 18.4.1, iPadOS 18.4.1, macOS 15.4.1, tvOS 18.4.1, and visionOS 2.4.1. These updates primarily focus on performance improvements and security patches.
Betas (Late April 2025): Apple is currently testing the next incremental updates: iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, macOS 15.5, tvOS 18.5, visionOS 2.5, and watchOS 11.5. The fourth betas for these were released recently.
WWDC 2025 Announcement: Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will begin on June 9, 2025. The event is expected to unveil the next major versions of its operating systems: iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16, watchOS 12, visionOS 3, and tvOS 19. Rumors suggest a significant design overhaul for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, drawing inspiration from visionOS, along with enhanced AI integration for Siri and various apps under the umbrella of "Apple Intelligence".
Security Updates for Older Systems (March 31, 2025): Apple released security updates iOS 16.7.11 and iPadOS 16.7.11 for older devices. iOS 15.8.4 and iPadOS 15.8.4 were also released with important security fixes.
visionOS 2.4 (Late March 2025): The latest major update for Apple Vision Pro, visionOS 2.4, brought the first set of Apple Intelligence features, including Writing Tools, Genmoji, and Image Playground. It also introduced the Spatial Gallery app and enhancements to the Guest User mode.
visionOS 2.4 Release: As mentioned above, this update introduced key Apple Intelligence features and new experiences.
Next-Generation Vision Pro: There are increasing reports and insider information suggesting Apple is actively developing a second-generation Vision Pro, potentially featuring a next-generation M5 chip. Some reports even suggest a possible release before the end of 2025, focusing on internal upgrades for improved performance.
Apple Intelligence: This suite of AI features is expected to be a central theme in future updates, with deeper integration across Apple's ecosystem. The initial set of these features arrived with visionOS 2.4.
WWDC 2025: The event in June is highly anticipated for major announcements regarding Apple's software and potentially new hardware.
It's important to remember that information regarding future hardware and software beyond the immediate betas and announced events is based on rumors and leaks and hasn't been officially confirmed by Apple.