Apple Foundation Models are the proprietary model family powering Apple Intelligence, the on-device and Private Cloud Compute (PCC) AI layer Apple introduced with iOS 18.1 in October 2024. The models run across an on-device tier on Apple Silicon and a PCC tier for heavier tasks, with parameter counts not publicly disclosed and weights not released. Under a January 2026 partnership with Google, the next generation of the models is to be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology rather than trained by Apple.
Architecture
Apple Intelligence is built on an on-device-first design: the on-device model runs on Apple Silicon without a cloud round-trip. Queries too heavy for on-device processing are offloaded to Private Cloud Compute, Apple's privacy-preserving cloud inference architecture. For world-knowledge queries, Apple Intelligence falls back to a third-party model, with ChatGPT integration provided at the October 2024 launch and Gemini integration planned under the later Apple–Google deal.
Capabilities and rollout
The first wave of Apple Intelligence features shipped with iOS 18.1 on October 28, 2024, comprising writing tools, notification summaries, photo cleanup, and a Siri refresh, backed by the on-device model with PCC offload for heavier tasks. iOS 18.4, released March 31, 2025, added further features as part of an extended Apple Intelligence rollout.
Transition to Gemini
On January 12, 2026, Apple and Google announced a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models is to be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology. Apple retains control of the product surface, including Siri, writing tools, and Apple Intelligence features, while delegating foundation-model training to Google.
Apple has not pursued frontier-scale foundation-model training of its own. Some observers read the Gemini arrangement as an acknowledgment that Apple would rely on product integration and distribution rather than competing at the frontier. In June 2025, Apple published "The Illusion of Thinking", a paper skeptical of reasoning-model capabilities, which some read as reflecting Apple's own constraints.
Relationships
- developer: Apple
- depends-on: Google Gemini (next-generation stack, via the January 2026 partnership)
- related: Gemini 3 / Gemini 3 Pro, Multimodality, Tim Cook
Sources
- Apple / Apple Intelligence launch (2024-10-28)
- Apple / iOS 18.4 features (2025-03-31)
- Apple-Google joint statement / Gemini-based Apple Foundation Models (2026-01-12)