Apple Is Quietly Testing an AI Coding Assistant for Xcode Using Anthropic’s Claude Model
According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple is teaming up with Anthropic to build an AI-powered coding assistant for Xcode, the company’s own software development environment. The goal? A Claude Sonnet–fueled tool that can write, edit, and even test code. Basically, a superpowered sidekick for Apple developers.
Claude Joins the Code Party
The AI integration is said to work via a chat interface, much like what developers are already familiar with from GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT. But in this case, it’s tailored specifically to Apple’s ecosystem, helping you debug, test UIs, and tackle code suggestions without ever leaving Xcode.
Apple is reportedly rolling this tool out internally for now. So, while the public release isn’t confirmed yet, the signs are promising, especially considering Apple also teased a similar tool called Swift Assist with Xcode 16 during WWDC 2024. (Yes, the one that hasn’t launched yet. We’re still waiting, Tim.)
Apple Needs This Win in AI
Let’s face it, Apple’s AI rollout hasn’t exactly been brisk. The revamped Siri? Delayed. Public-facing AI tools? Still catching up. Compared to Microsoft, which claims 20–30% of code in some internal projects is now AI-written, Apple’s been a bit… shy on the AI front.
Related: OpenAI Unveils A-SWE: An Autonomous AI Software Engineer That Codes, Tests, and Builds Apps
This Xcode assistant could mark a turning point. With Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet model on board, Apple seems ready to play catch-up and maybe even leapfrog the competition, if it can execute.
The Bigger AI Coding Picture
This move also fits into the broader AI arms race. OpenAI is reportedly looking to acquire Windsurf, an AI coding tool, for $3 billion. Microsoft’s already gone all-in with GitHub Copilot. Everyone’s trying to build the perfect robot programmer and Apple, with Claude’s help, just threw its hat into the ring.
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