Apple partners with Anthropic AI for Xcode

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Apple is working with an artificial intelligence company called Anthropic to build a smart tool that helps write computer code. 

This tool will be part of Xcode, which is Apple’s main software used by developers to build apps for iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The AI model powering this tool is called Claude Sonnet, created by Anthropic. 

According to Bloomberg, this smart assistant will be able to write, edit, and test code, making life easier for programmers. (Via: The Verge) 

Right now, Apple is only testing this tool inside the company. It hasn’t yet been decided if it will be released to the public. 

If it is, developers will be able to type questions or instructions into a chat-like window to get help with coding, fixing bugs, and checking how an app’s interface looks and behaves.

Apple and other major tech companies are all exploring how AI can make programming faster and easier. 

For example, Microsoft’s CEO recently said that up to 30% of the code in some of their projects may already be written by AI. 

OpenAI, another major player in AI, is reportedly thinking about spending $3 billion to buy a coding tool called Windsurf to improve how ChatGPT helps with programming.

Earlier in 2024, Apple announced its own AI tool called Swift Assist, which is also meant to help with coding, but that tool hasn’t been released yet. 

This new project with Anthropic could be Apple’s way of catching up in the AI race.

Apple has faced delays in other AI areas, too. For instance, an upgraded version of Siri was supposed to launch in 2024, but Apple has pushed back its release, saying it’s taking longer than expected. 

The leadership for Siri has also changed recently, suggesting that Apple is rethinking its AI plans. This coding assistant could make AI more useful for developers.

Do you like the idea of AI-assisted coding from Apple? Are you planning on using it? Let’s talk about this in the comments, below, or reach out to us via our Twitter or Facebook.