Apple today introduced new intelligence capabilities, expanded productivity features in Xcode, and platform improvements that make apps faster, more adaptive, and easier to build. The latest enhancements to Apple Intelligence and the introduction of Siri AI enable developers to make their apps' content and capabilities more discoverable and accessible across the system. Updates to the App Intents framework allow developers to connect their apps to Siri AI capabilities, including personal context understanding, app actions, and onscreen awareness.

Intelligence Frameworks and Core AI

New intelligence frameworks allow developers to build AI features into their apps more easily, tapping into powerful models from Apple and others. The Foundation Models framework now serves as a single native Swift API that supports more powerful on-device models with image input, support for server models, and the ability to build custom skills. Developers can tap into the next generation of Apple Foundation Models, custom-built in collaboration with Google and its Gemini models. To ensure accessibility, developers enrolled in the App Store Small Business Program with fewer than 2 million total first-time App Store downloads can access the next generation of Apple Foundation Models running on Private Cloud Compute at no cloud API cost. Developers can also leverage models of their choice, like Claude and Gemini, or those from any other provider that implements the new language model protocol. The framework introduces Dynamic Profiles, enabling developers to update how models interact with their apps on the fly.

For developers who want to bring their own custom models into their app, Core AI is a brand-new framework designed to run models on device. Core AI provides an architecture optimized for the unified memory and Neural Engine of Apple silicon, allowing developers to deploy full-scale LLMs locally.

Xcode 27 and Agentic Coding

Xcode 27 takes the next big step in agentic coding, bringing the full power of today's best models and agents from Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI directly into a developer's workflow. Conversations with coding agents feature interactive planning, multiturn Q&A, and a canvas that can render Markdown and display code changes and previews. Xcode 27 gives coding agents the tools to validate their own work, allowing them to run autonomously for longer, such as writing and running tests, trying ideas in isolation with Playgrounds, checking visual changes with previews, and interacting with the simulator in the new Device Hub. With plug-ins, developers can extend Xcode with custom skills, bring in tools through the Model Context Protocol, and connect any agent compatible with the Agent Client Protocol. GitHub and Figma are the first to offer seamless installation between their tools and Xcode.

In addition to coding intelligence, Xcode 27 delivers improvements across the board. The application is now Apple silicon only, 30 percent smaller, and delivers faster performance and a simpler setup process. It is also more personalizable, with a fully customizable toolbar and a new theme system. Xcode Cloud is now up to 2x faster, with new support for apps that use Metal and for visionOS builds.

Design, UI, and Gaming Tools

Liquid Glass provides a unified visual design that makes apps more expressive and instantly familiar across Apple platforms, with improvements to legibility, customizability, and consistency. A new transparency slider in Settings allows users to personalize their visual experience. SwiftUI makes apps more responsive without requiring developers to change their code through more efficient state initialization and faster layout rendering. The new Spatial Preview framework allows 3D models from Mac apps to be viewed spatially when streamed to Apple Vision Pro.

For game and spatial developers, new tools include Managed Background Assets to reduce game install sizes through intelligent, localized delivery, and a Steam Asset Converter to adapt PC games for Apple platforms. Game Porting Toolkit 4 accelerates Mac game development with open source skills for agents. Official Unity plug-ins bring native Apple integration for StoreKit and Background Assets. Reality Composer Pro 3 allows developers to build complete spatial experiences with new Live Previews combined with Mac Virtual Display.

Availability

Developer betas for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, and Xcode 27 are available starting today. Apple Intelligence features are available only in supported regions.

Apple previewed a suite of new parental controls and child safety features arriving this fall via software updates for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. The tools, designed with input from health and safety experts, aim to help parents manage the content their children can see, who they communicate with, and when they access apps. Sumbul Desai, M.D., Apple's vice president of Health and Fitness, stated that the updates are grounded in the belief that every child is unique, allowing parents to tailor digital journeys using simple, intuitive tools.

Getting Started with a Child Account

Setting up a Child Account is the primary step for enabling age-appropriate safeguards. This account is required for children under 13 and available for those up to 18. It enables system-wide protections such as limiting adult websites, restricting media to age-appropriate content, and enforcing age-based rules in the App Store. During device setup, parents are guided through the creation process and can choose to start with a few essential apps or a curated set, gradually adding more over time.

Managing Content and Communication

Apple introduced Ask to Browse, a new feature requiring children to request permission before accessing new websites in Safari. This complements the existing Ask to Buy function for App Store downloads. Communication Safety features, which blur nudity in Messages and FaceTime, will now expand to intervene and block gore or violent content in shared images or videos. Parents can also require approval for new contacts in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone.

Time Allowances and Screen Time

Time Allowances provide parents with flexible options to manage app usage across categories like Entertainment, Games, and Social Media. These settings offer expert-researched guidance tailored to a child's age as a starting point. Additionally, parents can set daily Schedules to control app access during specific times, such as school hours. Screen Time has been redesigned to offer an at-a-glance view of usage and most-used apps, allowing parents to make instant adjustments or grant extra time with a tap.

Developer and Parental Resources

Apple is collaborating with the American Academy of Pediatrics to adapt its Family Media Plan for users of Apple products. A dedicated website has been launched to provide resources and answers to common questions. Developers can access new APIs, such as SensitiveContentAnalysis and PermissionKit, to create age-appropriate in-app experiences and manage parental approvals for contacts. The new features will be available after installing the Screen Time update in the upcoming operating systems.