Apple is getting ready to hand users more control over which artificial intelligence model runs behind the scenes on their iPhones. According to a Bloomberg report, the company plans to let customers swap in third-party AI systems across features built into iOS 27, a notable departure from its usual closed approach.
The move would expand on the limited integration Apple has shipped so far. Apple Intelligence currently leans on the company's own models for most tasks and routes harder queries to ChatGPT through an opt-in handoff. Bloomberg's reporting suggests iOS 27 would treat outside models as first-class options rather than fallbacks, meaning users could pick a preferred engine to power writing tools, summaries, Siri responses and other AI-driven functions across the system.
The timing matters. Apple has faced criticism for moving slowly on generative AI while rivals push aggressive feature roadmaps, and the delayed overhaul of Siri has only sharpened that scrutiny. Opening iOS to competing models could ease pressure on Apple's own research teams and give iPhone owners access to the latest systems from companies like Google, Anthropic and OpenAI without waiting for Apple to license or replicate them. It also mirrors regulatory expectations in markets like the European Union, where Apple has already been forced to allow alternative browsers and app stores. A wider rollout is expected with iOS 27 next year, though Apple has not publicly confirmed the plans.
