With the arrival of iOS 26, developers are actively integrating Apple's local AI models into their applications, leveraging the Foundation Models framework introduced at WWDC 2025. This framework grants developers access to on-device AI capabilities, eliminating inference costs and enhancing user privacy. These models, while smaller than cloud-based alternatives, prioritise improved app usability and performance.
Early adopters are implementing these AI models to deliver quality-of-life improvements across diverse app categories, including education, finance, productivity, and journaling. Features range from AI-generated stories and smart emoji suggestions to spending insights and contract summaries. Apps can now offer functionalities such as automatic expense categorisation, task management, and recipe guidance, all processed locally on the device.
This shift towards local AI enables faster, more personalised experiences while ensuring user data remains private. As iOS 26 adoption grows, more applications are expected to integrate these on-device AI capabilities, further transforming the mobile user experience.
