Apple’s Foundation Models Framework

Earlier this year, Apple introduced its Foundation Models framework during WWDC 2025. The framework gives developers access to on‑device AI models that run locally on iOS devices, eliminating inference costs and preserving user privacy. Apple describes the models as smaller than those from major cloud providers, positioning them for quality‑of‑life enhancements rather than wholesale workflow changes.

iOS 26 Rollout Enables New Capabilities

With iOS 26 now rolling out to all users, developers are updating their apps to leverage the local AI capabilities. The operating system’s support for guided generation and tool calling allows a variety of new features to be built directly into apps.

App Developers Put the Models to Work

Several early adopters have showcased how the on‑device models can enrich everyday applications:

• Lil Artist adds interactive experiences for children, using the model to generate creative content and educational activities.
• A developer shipped an AI story creator that lets users pick a character and theme, with the story text generated locally.
• MoneyCoach provides spending insights and automatically suggests categories for transactions, all powered by the local model.
• LookUp introduces a learning mode that creates example sentences for words and visualizes word origins using on‑device AI.
• Tasks suggests tags for entries, detects recurring tasks, and parses spoken input into actionable items without needing an internet connection.
• Day One generates entry highlights, title suggestions, and prompts to encourage deeper journaling.
• A recipe app uses the models to suggest tags, name timers, and break down cooking instructions into step‑by‑step directions.
• A digital signing app extracts key insights from contracts and provides concise summaries for users.

Impact on Users and Developers

The integration of Apple’s local AI models is delivering tangible benefits: faster, offline functionality; enhanced privacy; and new interactive features that improve daily workflows. While the models are modest in size compared with larger cloud alternatives, developers report that they are sufficient for the targeted enhancements they are building.

As iOS 26 continues to spread, more apps are expected to adopt the Foundation Models framework, expanding the ecosystem of on‑device AI experiences across the platform.

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