AI not only from OpenAI: Third iOS 26.1 beta points in this direction

In the third beta version of iOS 26.1, which was distributed to the public last week, there are hints of changes in the support for artificial intelligence in Apple’s iPhone operating system. Codeleaks indicate that in the future, not only ChatGPT can serve as an alternative to Apple’s own Apple Intelligence models, but also Third-party AI technology. However, it is still unclear who they will come from.

“In connection with a third-party provider”

Previously, there had been information that at least Google with Gemini and Claude from Anthropic were on the shortlist. However, direct integration is not expected until the coming months, iOS 26.1, which is expected this month, should only do preliminary work here. Apple itself had always emphasized that it was open to third-party models – probably also to be able to counteract regulatory intervention or even competition proceedings.

The beta info comes from Codeleak expert Aaron Perris. He likes to compare well-known strings with those of the previous version. While iOS 26.0(.1) still contains the sentence that Apple can report problems related to ChatGPT from OpenAI to the company (“Reporting a Concern Related to ChatGPT”), it now says “Reporting a Concern Related to a Third Party”. This “third-party” could then be Google or Anthropic, should the AI systems be released for iOS.

Implementation perhaps with iOS 26.2?

Observers estimate that more AI systems will not be implemented until iOS 26.2 at the earliest, which is expected to be released in early December. However, it is also conceivable that Apple will wait until the new, context-sensitive Siri is finally ready. This is expected with iOS 26.4 in spring (March or April), but there are apparently internal concerns about this.

Apple’s AI department, meanwhile, remains in chaos: Again and again, well-known researchers or managers leave Apple Intelligence, most recently the newly elected boss of the planned new AI search engine. The unrest is only likely to subside when the company comes onto the market with well-functioning AI products of its own – it remains to be seen whether this is even possible with the current status. This is another reason why Apple relies on third-party providers.